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Explanation: About 1,300 images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft's wide angle camera were used to compose this spectacular view of a familiar face - the lunar nearside. But why is there a lunar nearside? The Moon rotates on its axis and orbits the Earth at the same rate, about once every 28 days. Tidally locked in this configuration, the synchronous rotation always keeps one side, the nearside, facing Earth. As a result, featured in remarkable detail in the full resolution mosaic, the smooth, dark, lunar mare (actually lava-flooded impact basins), and rugged highlands, are well-known to earthbound skygazers. To find your favorite mare or large crater, just slide your cursor over the picture. The LRO images used to construct the mosaic were recorded over a two week period last December.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Moon - lunar orbiter
Publications with words: Moon - lunar orbiter
See also:
- APOD: 2024 September 3 Á Quarter Moon and Sister Stars
- APOD: 2024 September 1 Á The Moon Dressed Like Saturn
- APOD: 2024 August 27 Á Moon Eclipses Saturn
- APOD: 2024 July 24 Á Exaggerated Moon
- Apollo 11 Landing Panorama
- APOD: 2024 June 2 Á Rotating Moon from LRO
- APOD: 2024 May 30 Á A Lunar Corona over Paris