Daily Update LRO Moon Mapping Mission [Archive]

LouC

July 7th, 2009, 12:23 am

LINK (http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=31681)

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has transmitted its first images since reaching the moon on June 23. The spacecraft's two cameras, collectively known as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, or LROC, were activated June 30. The cameras are working well and have returned images of a region in the lunar highlands south of Mare Nubium (Sea of Clouds). As the moon rotates beneath LRO, LROC gradually will build up photographic maps of the lunar surface.

"Our first images were taken along the moon's terminator -- the dividing line between day and night -- making us initially unsure of how they would turn out," said LROC Principal Investigator Mark Robinson of Arizona State University in Tempe. "Because of the deep shadowing, subtle topography is exaggerated, suggesting a craggy and inhospitable surface. In reality, the area is similar to the region where the Apollo 16 astronauts safely explored in 1972. While these are magnificent in their own right, the main message is that LROC is nearly ready to begin its mission."...

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/365431main_nacl000000fd_top_detail.jpg

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/365426main_nacl000000fd_middle.jpg

Early NAC Calibration Image LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/nacl000000fd)

Some more good stuff at the NAC Calibration page.

Samm

July 7th, 2009, 5:21 am

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/365431main_nacl000000fd_top_detail.jpg

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/365426main_nacl000000fd_middle.jpg

Some more good stuff at the NAC Calibration page.

Those are beautiful Lou... is that the "skateboard" resolution? Looks a bit fuzzier than that to me... of course there is no scale so it is hard to determine just looking at the pictures. Craters all look pretty much alike to me regardless of diameter.

LouC

July 7th, 2009, 8:43 am

Those are beautiful Lou... is that the "skateboard" resolution? Looks a bit fuzzier than that to me... of course there is no scale so it is hard to determine just looking at the pictures. Craters all look pretty much alike to me regardless of diameter.

Those are shot form the narrow angle resolution camera, they are still in the initial calibration phase for the LRO instrument packages, it was originally estimated it would take weeks to get all cameras and other equipment fully operational.

I don't know what altitude the orbiter was at when those were shot.

LouC

July 7th, 2009, 8:57 am

Okay Samm this explains the fuzzy.

Tuesday's LROC images were purely engineering tests, and this particular frame was part of a sequence specifically designed to check one of the NAC's settings. The engineering frames were acquired with only one-tenth the number of lines of a standard 52,224-line NAC frame to allow the full sequence to be acquired in one orbit.

NASA LROC LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/66-Swooping-over-the-Lunar-Highlands.html#extended)

Samm

July 7th, 2009, 4:07 pm

Okay Samm this explains the fuzzy.

Thanks Lou... I look forward to the "good" pictures.

... as, I'm sure, does Frank. ;)

notluzn

July 7th, 2009, 4:26 pm

I hope thats not it. Those are cheap pictures IMO. Hope for better ones soon.

LouC

July 7th, 2009, 4:30 pm

Thanks Lou... I look forward to the "good" pictures.

... as, I'm sure, does Frank. ;)

I did see in my reading that some of the initial photos were from 56 kilometers altitude (34.8 miles) where the stated final orbital altitude was to be about 32 miles average.

Actually I think Frank is looking forward to the better pics more than anyone.

LouC

July 7th, 2009, 4:31 pm

I hope thats not it. Those are cheap pictures IMO. Hope for better ones soon.

What makes you think they are cheap?

Just what do people want - expect? :rolleyes:

StoneScratcher

July 7th, 2009, 5:08 pm

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/365431main_nacl000000fd_top_detail.jpg

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/365426main_nacl000000fd_middle.jpg

Some more good stuff at the NAC Calibration page.

One of the poles.

http://image04.webshots.com/4/0/47/18/58804718vgPukl_fs.jpg

Evidence of ongoing crater activity:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/2916729304_2ee441c7ce.jpg

LouC

July 7th, 2009, 5:16 pm

One of the poles.

http://image04.webshots.com/4/0/47/18/58804718vgPukl_fs.jpg

All I get is "Forbidden" You don't have persimmon to be here.... Must be NASA doesn't want us to see them poles, what are they hiding there, pole dancers?

Evidence of ongoing crater activity:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/2916729304_2ee441c7ce.jpg

Moon Doggy Redux :))

StoneScratcher

July 7th, 2009, 5:17 pm

What makes you think they are cheap?

Just what do people want - expect? :rolleyes:

Expect? Pictures of the last footprints made on the moon?

http://crandonpark.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/dec11-023.jpg

Another crater:

http://www.bajainsider.com/baja-life/general-information/images/bajamornings/P1000502%202.jpg

StoneScratcher

July 7th, 2009, 5:20 pm

Sand dimpled with water:

http://pro.corbis.com/images/NTX069.jpg?size=572&uid=%7BD7879075-9A4F-4C57-B7A0-68F916B36BBD%7D

Moon dimples:

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/365431main_nacl000000fd_top_detail.jpg

LouC

July 7th, 2009, 5:26 pm

Expect? Pictures of the last footprints made on the moon?

http://crandonpark.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/dec11-023.jpg

My goodness.

Now you expect pictures of footprints on the Moon, but from whom?

Footprints from people who live "allegedly" in Castles that float 9 miles above the surface?

Footprints from NASA astronauts that never "allegedly" stepped foot on the Moon?

Dang you HB people are sure a fickle bunch.

Another crater:

http://www.bajainsider.com/baja-life/general-information/images/bajamornings/P1000502%202.jpg

Yeah I have made some beach sand craters myself.

LouC

July 7th, 2009, 5:28 pm

StoneScratcher

July 7th, 2009, 5:32 pm

Are you flooding this thread with pointless links for any purpose other than trolling?

You don't see the similarities of the pictures taken of Earth with those taken of the moon?

Notice the dimples, the placement of the upturned lips on the edges of the craters, the absence of anything dry-like in appearance, as if misted down by the ocean?

Need I point each thing out, LouC. This is not trolling, it is evidence that the Earth and moon surface are very similar. There's no denying that.

So? I gave footage from Japan's research. Is this it? Two black and white pictures of a day at the beach?

LouC

July 7th, 2009, 5:42 pm

You don't see the similarities of the pictures taken of Earth with those taken of the moon?

Notice the dimples, the placement of the upturned lips on the edges of the craters, the absence of anything dry-like in appearance, as if misted down by the ocean?

Need I point each thing out, LouC. This is not trolling, it is evidence that the Earth and moon surface are very similar. There's no denying that.

So? I gave footage from Japan's research. Is this it? Two black and white pictures of a day at the beach?

I don't need your links to know that something might look similar to something else.

You obviously are missing the other links I have provided.

Pictures of dogs digging holes on an ocean beach similar to impact craters on the moon?

Not hardly.

Do you have a point with your links other than pointless flooding?

FYI

Trolling:

A troll is a person that never offers anything of value or substance to the boards. The troll has no intention of taking part in discussions, save to try and ruin them for others. Trolls may be banned with impunity.

Flooding:

Flooding is a form of spamming, it's the practice of bumping other topics out of view in favor of changing the board to either increase your own visibility or decrease the visibility of another guest or topic. It can be cross-posting identical topics in different Forums or multiple posts in any one forum with identical or nearly identical content. It may result in actions from topics being deleted to the account responsible banned.

StoneScratcher

July 7th, 2009, 5:50 pm

I don't need your links to know that something might look similar to something else.

You obviously are missing the other links I have provided.

Pictures of dogs digging holes on an ocean beach similar to impact craters on the moon?

Not hardly.

Do you have a point with your links other than pointless flooding?

FYI

I deny flooding. Take it to the moderators. I was showing, visually, that there are similarities between earth's surface and the supposed moon pictures.

The dog digging was ONE cute picture for humor. Lighten up. Just because NASA has let you down with lame black and white pictures is no reason to get upset.

I provided lots of Japanese footage...and according to your definition (not the mods) of flooding, I am guilty of flooding my own thread. In fact, you called that ONE link I provided on my own thread "idiotic".

Go to the mods then.

Dimples on wet sand on Earth DO look like dimples on moon sand (dust, whatever). If I posted this statement, you'd say it doesn't look the same. I simply provided you the link so you could see for yourself. And apparently, this struck a nerve.

Edited to include where you said one of my links (which you call flooding by this thread's definition) was "idiotic":

http://forums.hannity.com/showpost.php?p=57334181&postcount=11

LouC

July 7th, 2009, 6:24 pm

I deny flooding. Take it to the moderators. I was showing, visually, that there are similarities between earth's surface and the supposed moon pictures.

But you were doing it with no point.

The dog digging was ONE cute picture for humor.

I made a joke about the dog.

Lighten up.

I am light, not that it is your job to order people around.

Just because NASA has let you down with lame black and white pictures is no reason to get upset.

If for one second I thought NASA had let me down I sure as heck wouldn't be starting threads about it.

I am let down by the level of ignorance regarding the significance of these alleged "lame" black and white pics.

I provided lots of Japanese footage...and according to your definition (not the mods) of flooding, I am guilty of flooding my own thread.

Yes you did and I watched the Japanese footage and just enough of the YouTube to verify what it was.

That was the intent of your thread so it wasn't flooding but serving to be the thread you constructed.

Sorry that you don't understand the difference between the links in your thread and the ones you dumped in mine.

In fact, you called that ONE link I provided on my own thread "idiotic".

Yes I did, I think I also referred to it as garbage as well, but I did not try to dump multiple pointless links into that thread.

Go to the mods then.

Why?

I would hope you could understand that all I am asking for is a point to all the links you have posted, without any salient point they are just so much flooding, and continuing to post nonsensical links is trollish.

Dimples on wet sand on Earth DO look like dimples on moon sand (dust, whatever). If I posted this statement, you'd say it doesn't look the same. I simply provided you the link so you could see for yourself. And apparently, this struck a nerve.

If you were paying attention you would know I acknowledged that things here might look similar to things elsewhere.

What you have not done is give a reason or a point to what you are posting.

What is your point?

Edited to include where you said one of my links (which you call flooding by this thread's definition) was "idiotic":

http://forums.hannity.com/showpost.php?p=57334181&postcount=11

Yes, one more time, I freely admit the link to the Apollo 17 HB YouTube video and the video itself are idiotic.

LouC

July 7th, 2009, 10:09 pm

LRO Image Gallery Page LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse)

More images that are coming in during the NAC.

LouC

July 8th, 2009, 4:10 am

http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/nacl0000019a_area.png

On July 4th the LROC Narrow Angle Camera scanned its way towards the north pole at an altitude of 187 km (116 miles), brushing past the crater Rozhdestvenskiy W.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbzN1t2N7r0

The LROC Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) scans one line at a time so it builds up a complete picture through the motion of the spacecraft. LRO is traveling about ~1600 meters a second (faster than a speeding bullet), so the NAC must read out its array in less than a millisecond for a full resolution image at its nominal 50-km orbit. Currently LRO is in the elliptical commissioning (30x199 km) orbit. When this 2x-summed image was taken on July 4th, 2009 the spacecraft was at an altitude of 187 km, resulting in an exposure time of 2.5 milliseconds. Scrolling through the lines as a movie gives a feel for the spacecraft’s motion in orbit, albeit at a 30% slower rate.

The first half of the movie shows the eastern rim of Rozhdestvenskiy W crater at sunrise. With the low incidence angle casting large shadows, small features such as “elephant skin” texture and secondary craters are brought into high relief.

Fifty seconds into the movie, we see the western half of Bosch, a newly-named crater approximately 18 km in diameter. What the movie shows is a bit abstract, but the pitch black on the right is the shadowed floor of the crater and the illuminated strip on the left is the lighted rim of the crater.

At one minute and 20 seconds a scalloped shadow inside an unnamed crater (~14 km diameter) comes into view; the distinctive shape tells us that the unseen rim to the west is very uneven. Future passes will reveal the west rim. Over the next month LROC will complete its first of several maps of the north polar region.

I know it is YT video but that is where they put it.

Still cool.

LouC

July 8th, 2009, 10:01 am

Bump For The Day Crew

AmericanMuscle

July 8th, 2009, 12:40 pm

In the words of my 12 year old- "Oh Wow!"

Thanks~

LouC

July 8th, 2009, 2:53 pm

In the words of my 12 year old- "Oh Wow!"

Thanks~

Now that is a good response.

You are welcome.

Did you maximize the video to fill your screen and watch it that way?

I have a couple of times and it is a blast.

I did it one time late last night with all the lights off and it was almost like looking out a window of the craft itself, I literally got a twinge of the beginnings of motion sickness. :D

Keep in mind that was taken at 116 miles above the surface, the actual final orbit altitude will be 32 to I believe 63 miles.

LouC

July 9th, 2009, 10:55 pm

The LROC NACs are powered down as we complete the final bakeout!

After three days of imaging (July 3 - 5) the two Narrow Angle Cameras were powered down and the telescope heaters turned back up to 50 degrees Celsius to drive out any remaining moisture. This final bakeout will insure the best quality imaging for the rest of the LRO mission. From our current image data, we know that both NACs are very close to being in focus. The heaters will remain on until tomorrow afternoon to bring the NACs into final focus. For comparison, the LROC engineering team acquired collimated focus images after a lengthy bakeout in a special vacuum chamber last year in order to simulate the space environment. A final check was performed by taking each NAC outside immediately after the bakeout was complete and hand-scanning the sensor across the Moon.

LRO LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/72-NAC-Imaging-Hiatus.html)

Bump Date

Where is LRO tracking LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/whereislro/)

AeroEngineer

July 9th, 2009, 11:33 pm

This can't be true, as the Moon doesn't actually exist:

http://www.revisionism.nl/Moon/

LouC

July 10th, 2009, 12:08 am

This can't be true, as the Moon doesn't actually exist:

http://www.revisionism.nl/Moon/

Argh!!!!!!!!!!

:wall:

:doh:

Photo Evidence of the non-existence of Winnipeg :))

MikeJF

July 10th, 2009, 1:16 am

Gabby

July 10th, 2009, 1:26 am

Lou, great images. I look forward to seeing more as they come in.

Samm

July 10th, 2009, 1:52 am

thanks for the links

now check out from the new pics what appears to be a very long tower shadow:

"Tower on moon seen in new data from LRO imag"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9ZocRxyYKE&feature=related

we don't see the tower, but we do see a very long shadow of what appears to be a perfect pyramid tower. whatever is making that shadow I'd like to know

Damn cell phone towers... they are sprouting up all over the place... :mad:

If you look closely... at about 2:15 on the video, there is another long (smaller than the main one) triangular shadow from the rim of the smaller crater at about 4 o'clock to the featured "tower." With the very low sun angle and the lack of atmosphere anything of a roughly triangular shape will produce a long triangular shadow. Most likely from core material from asteroids.

Cav Scout

July 10th, 2009, 5:43 am

I truly live for the moon threads... I can not wait until we actually start mining or some other such industry reaches space to see what the revisionist conspiracy kooks dream up for that explanation.

LouC

July 10th, 2009, 7:54 am

MikeJF

July 10th, 2009, 1:20 pm

:wall: :wall: :wall: :wall: :wall:

so how do you explain that long 'pyramid' shadow?

MikeJF

July 10th, 2009, 2:38 pm

..... With the very low sun angle and the lack of atmosphere anything of a roughly triangular shape will produce a long triangular shadow. Most likely from core material from asteroids.

so you are saying that maybe the triangular shadow is a natural phenomenon from maybe asteroid material? If this is a natural phenomenon then shouldn't we know how common or rare is it?

If this is a natural phenomenon that is common, then we should be seeing other triangular shadows all around the moon. True?

But if this is a natural phenomenon that is somewhat rare, then it's certainly worth time and effort of closer examination and study.

CaughtInTheMiddle

July 10th, 2009, 2:54 pm

LouC

July 10th, 2009, 4:01 pm

so how do you explain that long 'pyramid' shadow?

A natural and extremely effect of long shadowing, especially as we have witnessed on the moon.

I do not jump up and say "aha" a tower.

Take a look at the still of that image at the LRO website (without the YT lunacy) and Zoom in and see it is not a tower.

Zooming in to several of the LRO images lets you see the long shadow effect on rock fields in many places.

snagswolf

July 10th, 2009, 4:13 pm

Oh joy. The nutjobs have a whole new set of Rorschach images to discover their fantasies in.

LouC

July 10th, 2009, 4:18 pm

Oh joy. The nutjobs have a whole new set of Rorschach images to discover their fantasies in.

Yes... :(( :(( :((

It has begun... :doh:

LouC

July 10th, 2009, 4:22 pm

LouC

July 10th, 2009, 4:54 pm

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/hires/su7_68_h_40.gif

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/hires/a12_h_50_7438.gif

More long pointy shadows from earlier missions.

Samm

July 10th, 2009, 5:15 pm

so you are saying that maybe the triangular shadow is a natural phenomenon from maybe asteroid material? If this is a natural phenomenon then shouldn't we know how common or rare is it?

If this is a natural phenomenon that is common, then we should be seeing other triangular shadows all around the moon. True?

But if this is a natural phenomenon that is somewhat rare, then it's certainly worth time and effort of closer examination and study.

Triangular shapes in nature are extremely common. Any granular material in a gravity field will form a conical shape, which when seen from one side forms a triangle. (Just think of how many mountains are basically triangular.) Combine that physical fact with the very low sun angle, the lack of an atmosphere to diffuse the light and blur the edges of the shadow, and you get a long triangular shadow that you will not see on Earth (because of the atmospheric diffusion.)

I think if you were to check the edges of the sunshine on the surface of the moon with the same level of detail that was done with this photo you will find thousands of triangular shadows. Even with the low quality video provided in your link, I was able to quickly spot a second such shadow that the poster of the video had not seen because he was so focused on the larger one. I did not spend much time looking... there may be more even in that small area shown in the clip.

Samm

July 10th, 2009, 5:29 pm

http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/nacl00000141

Okay at that link is the still image.

Zoom into the point that you believe is the tower.

Now look down below it and just to the left and see more smaller rocks that are also casting triangle - cone shaped shadows.

http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/nacl0000012a

http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/nacl00000133

You can see more of this when you zoom in and scan the ^ images above.

Good find. Yep... as I suspected there are many more triangular shadows in the vicinity of the "tower." Essentially, every feature that protrudes from the surface is making one. Of course that just proves (to the conspiracy minded) that there was a whole colony of tower monuments there. ;)

MikeJF

July 10th, 2009, 7:36 pm

Samm

July 10th, 2009, 8:19 pm

yes there are lots of cone shape shadows, but nothing like that very long and thin one- one has to admit that is rarely seen. Yes, an extremely low sun exaggerates the apparent length optically, but that just means that particular rock is unusually thin. Upward THIN symmetrical rock protrusions are unusual, whatever height.

The rock casting the shadow is larger (probably the core of the asteroid that made the old crater in which it is centered) than the other points (shrapnel from the asteroid?) and the ground behind it clearly falls away... lengthening the shadow even more. There is no mystery here.

LouC

July 10th, 2009, 8:35 pm

yes there are lots of cone shape shadows, but nothing like that very long and thin one- one has to admit that is rarely seen. Yes, an extremely low sun exaggerates the apparent length optically, but that just means that particular rock is unusually thin. Upward THIN symmetrical rock protrusions are unusual, whatever height.

No they are not unusual.

Quite common on the Moon.

And with the sun angle the rock does not have to be very tall at all.

Especially when one considers the lie of the land on the shadow side of the rock.

hatman

July 10th, 2009, 9:43 pm

No they are not unusual.

Quite common on the Moon.

And with the sun angle the rock does not have to be very tall at all.

Especially when one considers the lie of the land on the shadow side of the rock.

They look like tepees to me.
Thank God the Moonlings aren't advanced enough to attack us - yet.

p.s. Thanks for posting these links Lou. Brings back good memories and a sense of awe from the Apollo days.

LouC

July 10th, 2009, 10:23 pm

They look like tepees to me.
Thank God the Moonlings aren't advanced enough to attack us - yet.

p.s. Thanks for posting these links Lou. Brings back good memories and a sense of awe from the Apollo days.

You are welcome.

Yes it does inspire the sense of awe.

Hope we all get to see mankind's return to the Moon soon.

LouC

July 11th, 2009, 6:51 pm

so how do you explain that long 'pyramid' shadow?

The central peak and fractured floor of Compton crater as imaged by the LROC Narrow Angle Camera at dawn, image width is ~1720 meters [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/cover_1000.png

106.8 Miles above the surface.

Zoom in to this latest image.

At the 1:00 position on the central crater in the shot there are two likely ejecta stones, the bright white points, not huge features but good enough to again illustrate the shadow coning effect.

When zoomed in the left stone has an elongated shadow that draws to a point but it is seen completely on the crater rim.

However look at the stone on the right, you can begin to see it's shadow but then it is lost in the large shadow of the crater wall, but look closely because the rocks shadow reappears at the right edge of the crater shadow and cones down to a fine point.

Now some, without the proper perspective, might say "that is a tower shadow", but in reality it is just a lowly little rock that just happens to be in the right place to cast a long narrow cone shaped shadow.

LouC

July 11th, 2009, 7:04 pm

Latest LROC Video Click LINK (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOTUoxTDf2o&feature=channel_page)

Video explained below.

Also in this video are two more excellent examples of Moon shadow coning effect.

First one is at the 1:25 to 1:30 mark and the other is from 1:40 to the end mark at 1:45.

LROC is now officially in the instrument commissioning phase.

The LROC team has begun the process of analyzing our data, and are still making small adjustments to our instruments as the LRO mission continues.

Orbit 136 took LRO over the Imbrian-aged Compton Crater (162 km diameter) at an altitude of 172 kilometers [106.8 miles].

At this height, large boulders can be seen casting shadows, especially on the rims of the numerous secondary impacts that cover this ancient surface.

But there is more to this image than craters and boulders.

In the upper part, the western edge of Compton's huge central peak is visible.

The wide, sloping flat floored trough (or graben) records a period of uplift of the crater floor.

The uplift caused the floor to break and pull apart, forming the graben.

The cause of the uplift and fracture of crater floors is not yet fully understood.

One possibility is the slow readjustment of the crust after the crater-forming impact.

Asteroids and comets strike the Moon at speeds greater than 15 km/second.

So much energy is released that rock behaves as a plastic for a brief instant - the crust is pushed down.

Over time the crust relaxes and uplifts towards its original position, fracturing lava flows that were erupted and hardened after the impact.

Another idea concerns the intrusion of lava into the shallow subsurface.

As this magma follows existing cracks, it exerts pressure on the surrounding rock causing uplift and more fracturing.

Unraveling the origin of lunar tectonic features like this one is a primary focus of LROC science team.

For reference my previous post had a still shot taken from this video.

AvgGuyIA

July 11th, 2009, 7:39 pm

Couldn't they have taken a more interesting photo?

LouC

July 11th, 2009, 7:52 pm

Couldn't they have taken a more interesting photo?

I do seriously hope that is sarcasm.

:(

Samm

July 11th, 2009, 7:55 pm

Couldn't they have taken a more interesting photo?

What could be more interesting than pyramid shaped obelisks left by ancient alien civilizations? ;)

LouC

July 11th, 2009, 7:58 pm

What could be more interesting than pyramid shaped obelisks left by ancient alien civilizations? ;)

:(( :wall: :doh: :(( :wall: :doh:

Samm

July 11th, 2009, 7:58 pm

Samm

July 11th, 2009, 8:04 pm

so how do you explain that long 'pyramid' shadow?

Here is a picture of the shadows of two 30-foot tall people:

LouC

July 11th, 2009, 8:09 pm

Here is a picture of the shadows of two 30-foot tall people:

Moon Tower People :eek:

LouC

July 11th, 2009, 8:11 pm

WOW! Did you see that giant pyramid at about 1 min 42 seconds!? :eek:

Yes Samm I did, really I did.

Can't wait for the next OMG RubeTube video posting. :))

smyrna

July 11th, 2009, 8:22 pm

Has anyone considered...lunar crayfish?:mrgreen:

LouC

July 11th, 2009, 9:26 pm

Has anyone considered...lunar crayfish?:mrgreen:

By cracky you just might be on to something?

Had almost forgotten about those mud towers them crawdads would make in the ditch out back of our house.

LouC

July 12th, 2009, 8:17 pm

Bump

Drawz

July 12th, 2009, 11:05 pm

Physics Hunter

July 13th, 2009, 12:55 am

spinach

July 13th, 2009, 2:37 am

Damn cell phone towers... they are sprouting up all over the place... :mad:

If you look closely... at about 2:15 on the video, there is another long (smaller than the main one) triangular shadow from the rim of the smaller crater at about 4 o'clock to the featured "tower." With the very low sun angle and the lack of atmosphere anything of a roughly triangular shape will produce a long triangular shadow. Most likely from core material from asteroids.

I would agree

LouC

July 13th, 2009, 10:32 am

Thanks for the post! I did not know what the status of this vehicle.

You are welcome.

This mission so far to me has been very inspiring and exciting, it is still only in the commissioning phase to boot.

Some people see nothing exciting in the videos or the stills, some because there is no color, while others just see a barren boring landscape devoid of earthlike features.

I don't find these films or stills to be the least bit boring or lacking in any way.

Guess I have a different eye, which is why I saw so much beauty in the deserts of California and Arizona while friends and family members saw dirt and rocks and "where is the grass and the trees".

LouC

July 14th, 2009, 7:09 pm

Latest LRO Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/wac000009c6.vismos.560.1000x1000.str.png)

Mosaic of a floor-fractured crater, acquired by the Wide Angle Camera 560 nm filter. Scene is approximately 160 km [99.4 miles] across [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

LRO Mission Day 26

For those who have just joined this thread the LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) has two main digital cameras.

They have on board a NAC (Narrow Angle Camera) and a WAC (Wide Angle Camera).

The NAC camera will have a .5 meter [1.6 Foot] per pixel resolution at the LRO's eventual operational altitude of 50 kilometers [31 miles].

The WAC camera will have a 91.4 meter [300 Foot] per pixel resolution at the LRO's eventual operational altitude of 50 kilometers [31 miles].

The LRO is in a "commissioning" of 30 kilometers [18.5 miles] above the south pole and 216 kilometers [134 miles] above the north pole for about two months.

Wide Angle Camera (WAC) images that went into this mosaic were acquired on July 8, 2009.

On the bottom left is Hahn crater (approximately 80 km in diameter [49.7 miles]), with its terraced walls that form as material slumps down the sides and central peak that rebounds from depth during the impact process.

A portion of the large impact crater Gauss (170 km in diameter [105.6 miles]; 35.7 degrees N, 79.0 degrees E) is in the upper right corner.

Its floor appears to have been flooded with lava, which solidified and later fractured.

The presence of these irregular cracks may be due to the intrusion of magma, which disrupted the crater floor as it rose and eventually stalled beneath the surface.

If the material on the floor is due to extrusive volcanism, the color filters of the WAC will help to determine its composition relative to the surrounding terrain.

The Narrow Angle Cameras (NACs) will allow us to see small vents and pyroclastic deposits that often occur in similar floor-fractured craters, helping to confirm that these cracks are due to volcanic activity beneath the crater.

Uncalibrated data, north is up, scene is approximately 160 km across [99.4 miles] and in simple cylindrical projection at 155 m/pixel.

LROC Website Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/categories/2-Featured-Image)

LouC

July 17th, 2009, 9:09 am

With bakeout complete, the NACs were reactivated over the weekend to begin systematic calibrations.

Of particular interest over the weekend were testing the interactions between the Diviner instrument and LROC. Diviner is the only instrument on LRO that moves independently of the spacecraft, and we need to take into account its motions when planning LROC observations. In addition, the Mini-RF radar system was activated for the first time this weekend. Mini-RF and LROC share the same high-speed data system aboard LRO, and so scheduling Mini-RF and LROC observations requires coordination with our friends on the Mini-RF team. Over the next month, we will continue to methodically acquire the measurements we need to successfully calibrate LROC. Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/75-Bakeout-complete!.html#extended)

LRO Homepage Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/index.html)

For those who are interested in the LRO mission.

LouC

July 18th, 2009, 9:52 am

Apollo 14 Site Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/ap14_blowup.png)

Four times enlargement of an uncalibrated LROC NAC image showing the Apollo 14 lunar module (LM Antares) and the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP). Note the astronaut tracks between the two artifacts [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

That is great, but wait....

Apollo Landing Sites Compilation Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/five_sites_anot.png)

Apollo 11 (UL; 282 meters wide), Apollo 15 (UR; 384 meters wide), Apollo 16 (ML; 256 meters wide), Apollo 17 (MR; 359 meters wide), Apollo 14 (Bottom; 538 meters wide) [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Good information at the LRO Image Update page, see the following:

LROC’s First Look at the Apollo Landing Sites Web Page (lots of good stuff) Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/76-LROC%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%84%A2s-First-Look-at-the-Apollo-Landing-Sites.html)

For the five Apollo landing sites imaged by LROC, the biggest variables are spacecraft altitude (ground scale) and time of day, which translates into signal strength.

In the current collection of images the best feature discrimination is in the Apollo 14 scene (astronaut tracks and ALSEP) even though the highest resolution picture covers the Apollo 16 site.

This counter-intuitive result clearly shows that increased illumination (high signal) is a very significant factor in the true resolution of a picture. Next month LRO will pass over all the landing sites at the same altitudes but with the Sun 15° higher above the horizon.

By September LRO will be placed in a lower mapping orbit and higher resolution images will be possible.

The LROC NAC image data presented here has not been calibrated, the faint vertical stripes are a normal part of the image, and will be removed later after the full suite of calibration data is collected during the commissioning phase.

Wow, the best is yet to come.

LouC

July 18th, 2009, 10:15 am

Apollo 14 Site Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/ap14_blowup.png)

That is great, but wait....

Apollo Landing Sites Compilation Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/five_sites_anot.png)

Good information at the LRO Image Update page, see the following:

Wow, the best is yet to come.

Bump

Pauper66

July 18th, 2009, 4:49 pm

Looks like a great place to mountain bike.

LouC

July 18th, 2009, 4:59 pm

Looks like a great place to mountain bike.

Maybe we can get some recovery money to trick out some trails. :think:

LouC

July 18th, 2009, 7:22 pm

Apollo 11 Landing Site

http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/A11LEMa_1000.png

Lander is almost dead center of the shot and is casting a long shadow to the right.

Apollo 14 Landing Site

http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/A14LEMa_1000.png

Lander is at the 10 o’clock position off a depression that is just below the centerline of the image and right above two vertically aligned craters in the bottom right quadrant of the image.

Apollo 15 Landing Site

http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/A15LEMa_1000.png

Lander is almost dead center of the shot and is casting a long shadow to the right.

Apollo 16 Landing Site

http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/A16LEMa_1000.png

Lander is almost dead center of the shot, right on the edge of a crater at the 9 o‘clock position, and it is casting a long shadow to the right that reaches completely across the crater and can be seen on the other side.

Apollo 17 Landing Site

http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/A17LEMa_1000.png

Lander is almost dead center of the shot and is casting a long shadow to the right that looks connected to a small crater.

StoneScratcher

July 18th, 2009, 7:31 pm

[quote=LouC;57965121]Apollo 11 Landing Site

http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/A11LEMa_1000.png

Question:

Why does the shadow cast to the right, when on the mounds, the light is coming from the right?

(I haven't looked at the other pictures yet.) Thanks

StoneScratcher

July 18th, 2009, 7:36 pm

Apollo 16 Landing Site

http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/A16LEMa_1000.png

Lander is almost dead center of the shot, right on the edge of a crater at the 9 o‘clock position, and it is casting a long shadow to the right that reaches completely across the crater and can be seen on the other side.

How can something cast a shadow into the lighted area of the crater? Wouldn't the shadow go to the left?

hatman

July 18th, 2009, 7:51 pm

LouC

July 18th, 2009, 7:55 pm

[QUOTE]

Question:

Why does the shadow cast to the right, when on the mounds, the light is coming from the right?

(I haven't looked at the other pictures yet.) Thanks

There is no light on "the mounds" coming from the right.

perhaps you are confusing depressions or craters with mounds

The Sunlight is coming from the left so the shadow will cast right.

LouC

July 18th, 2009, 7:59 pm

How can something cast a shadow into the lighted area of the crater? Wouldn't the shadow go to the left?

The Sun is to the left so the shadow will cast right and since the descent module is above the level of the crater its shadow falls across the crater and shadows the lighted interior of the crater.

StoneScratcher

July 18th, 2009, 8:02 pm

[quote=StoneScratcher;57965341]

There is no light on "the mounds" coming from the right.

perhaps you are confusing depressions or craters with mounds

The Sunlight is coming from the left so the shadow will cast right.

There are mounds on the right that have little craters or boulders, with the sun shining on their right.

I have someone else with me looking at this too, so you have to see what we're seeing. Look at the right side of the picture and see? How's that done?

Honest question.

LouC

July 18th, 2009, 8:02 pm

Good stuff, Lou. Thank you.

I wonder, in the Apollo 11 pic, if that big crater to the right of the lander on the edge of the photo is the "football sized crater with large rocks all around it"that Armstrong had to avoid.

I don't know.

It could be, I have been hoping to cross reference with plotted overlays of the missions on other images but haven't gotten there yet.

LouC

July 18th, 2009, 8:10 pm

[quote=LouC;57966081]

There are mounds on the right that have little craters or boulders, with the sun shining on their right.

I have someone else with me looking at this too, so you have to see what we're seeing. Look at the right side of the picture and see? How's that done?

Honest question.

There are no "mounds" on the image that have sunlight coming from the right.

There is a large well weathered crater on the right side of the frame with many boulders and the sunlight is illuminating the right inside of the crater making a bright crescent.

Pauper66

July 18th, 2009, 8:15 pm

In all the pics, the darkness of the craters/mounds is on the same side (left).

In the first four pics, the Apollo shadows cast right.
In the last, it casts left.

CaughtInTheMiddle

July 18th, 2009, 8:22 pm

That "LRO sees Apollo 14 landing site: manmade artifacts and tracks present... " thread sure is better than this one.

Couldn't resist.

LouC

July 18th, 2009, 8:34 pm

In all the pics, the darkness of the craters/mounds is on the same side (left).

In the first four pics, the Apollo shadows cast right.
In the last, it casts left.

No it doesn't.

It casts right.

LouC

July 18th, 2009, 8:35 pm

That "LRO sees Apollo 14 landing site: manmade artifacts and tracks present... " thread sure is better than this one.

Couldn't resist.

:naughty:

:))

hatman

July 18th, 2009, 9:35 pm

LouC

July 18th, 2009, 10:40 pm

I just got off the phone with my dad in Houston. He was very excited to hear about these pics. I'll be sending him the url.

He told me a little story I hadn't heard before. George Stoner (Boeing VP) gave him an assignment to put together a proposal for NASA.
Turns out the rovers had about 30-40 miles of battery power left after a mission. Between Apollo 15 and 16 he made a proposal to outfit the remaining rovers with sensors and a camera and let me continue to explore robotically.
Unfortunately, NASA turned it down as the program was on the verge of the inevitable cuts that doomed 18 -20 and thus didn't want to spend the money.

Thanks for that information.

Don't forget come September they will be passing over those landing sites again and taking even better, fully calibrated NAC shots at the LRO's lower regular orbit.

I feel we made some bad decisions after that "One small step" was accomplished, I regret for us those decisions...

hatman

July 19th, 2009, 1:35 am

Thanks for that information.

Don't forget come September they will be passing over those landing sites again and taking even better, fully calibrated NAC shots at the LRO's lower regular orbit.

I feel we made some bad decisions after that "One small step" was accomplished, I regret for us those decisions...

I can't wait for those September pix. Neither can dad.
Thanks again for all the info.

Pauper66

July 19th, 2009, 2:48 am

No it doesn't.

It casts right.

I looked again. You are correct.

Lots of interesting stuff in that last pic. Plenty of boulders(?) casting shadows.

Pauper66

July 19th, 2009, 3:23 am

Pauper66

July 19th, 2009, 3:37 am

Some people see nothing exciting in the videos or the stills, some because there is no color, while others just see a barren boring landscape devoid of earthlike features.

It's one of the most incredible and amazing landscapes I have ever seen. I want to live there.

Guess I have a different eye, which is why I saw so much beauty in the deserts of California and Arizona while friends and family members saw dirt and rocks and "where is the grass and the trees".

I couldn't agree more. I can't the times I've been to the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas, including Meteor Crater.

Samm

July 19th, 2009, 5:17 am

There are mounds on the right that have little craters or boulders, with the sun shining on their right.

I have someone else with me looking at this too, so you have to see what we're seeing. Look at the right side of the picture and see? How's that done?

Honest question.

I don't know what you are seeing, but in all of the pictures that Lou posted the light is coming from the left. There is an illusion that can occur with pictures of craters in zero atmosphere that makes craters appear as mounds and mounds appear as creaters, but I am not seeing that with any of these pictures. If you are... and please take this seriously... turn your monitor over or rotate your head upside down and take a fresh look. Once your brain correctly identifies up from down the image should appear correctly.

LouC

July 19th, 2009, 10:33 am

I looked again. You are correct.

Lots of interesting stuff in that last pic. Plenty of boulders(?) casting shadows.

Large boulders are indeed in evidence.

Using the LM descent module that is there for reference, imagine a box 10' feet tall by 13' feet on a side, then one can put the boulders into a little better perspective.

LouC

July 19th, 2009, 10:34 am

I can't wait for those September pix. Neither can dad.
Thanks again for all the info.

You are very welcome.

Glad you and dad are enjoying this thread.

LouC

July 19th, 2009, 10:35 am

Awesome video. There's a crater that passes through the middle of the screen from approx. :45 to :55. On the right crater rim are more of these "alien tower condos".

Seems even the aliens know "location, location, location".:))

Some truths are universal, "location, location, location" being one of them it would seem. :)

LouC

July 19th, 2009, 10:57 am

When the LRO was launched it was one of two Lunar orbiters on that rocket, there also was the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite which is in a very large lunar orbit that actually takes it around the earth. This orbiter is destined to crash into the moon in order to send up a plume of matter that can be analyzed for water content.

LCROSS Update: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:29:24 AM CDT

Stop Image Compilation Of LCROSS In Orbit
Click LINK (http://www.backyardastronomer.com/lcross/LCROSS-20090629-anim2.gif)

At approximately 5:30 a.m. PDT, the spacecraft was 342,700 miles (551,500_km) from the Earth 469,600 miles (755,700 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 1,764 mph (0.788 km/s).

LCROSS has traveled approximately 1,271,700 miles (2,046,600 km). All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS)

LCROSS Mission Home Page
Click LINK (http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov/)

The Mission Objectives of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) include confirming the presence or absence of water ice in a permanently shadowed crater at the Moon’s South Pole. The identification of water is very important to the future of human activities on the Moon. LCROSS will excavate the permanently dark floor of one of the Moon’s polar craters with two heavy impactors in 2009 to test the theory that ancient ice lies buried there. The impact will eject material from the crater’s surface to create a plume that specialized instruments will be able to analyze for the presence of water (ice and vapor), hydrocarbons and hydrated materials.

LCROSS will also provide technologies and modular, reconfigurable subsystems that can be used to support future mission architectures.

Ames Research Center (ARC) is managing the mission, conducting mission operations, and has developed the payload instruments, while Northrop Grumman designed and built the spacecraft for this innovative mission. Ames mission scientists will spearhead the data analysis. This is a fast-paced, low-cost, mission that will leverage some existing NASA systems, Northrop-Grumman spacecraft expertise, and Ames’ Lunar Prospector experience.

Scheduled for launch no earlier than June 17, 2009, LCROSS will travel to the Moon as a co-manifested payload aboard the launch vehicle for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). LRO is designed to map the lunar surface and characterize landing sites for future missions.

Pauper66

July 19th, 2009, 3:46 pm

This orbiter is destined to crash into the moon in order to send up a plume of matter that can be analyzed for water content.

I wonder how much it weighs and what impact speed is?

What would be the feasability of making something like a 100 ton "bullet" that they could "shoot the moon" with. Or Mars for that matter.

LouC

July 19th, 2009, 4:09 pm

I wonder how much it weighs and what impact speed is?

Funny you should ask

...To probe the lunar regolith in permanent shadow we propose two massive impactors to release dust and volatiles from the lunar subsurface into a plume to be observed primarily by the Shepherding Spacecraft (S-S/C), and complimented by observations from ground-based, aerial and orbital telescopes.

The lunar impacts of the 2000 kg (4409 lb) upper stage and the 700 kg (1543 lb) S-S/C will take place at a velocity of 2.5 km/sec (1.5 mile/sec) and at an angle of 75°.

The resulting impact craters will be ~28m in diameter (91 feet) by ~5m deep (16 feet) (Centaur) and ~18m in diameter (59 feet) by 3.5m deep (11 feet) (Shepherding Spacecraft).

More data and diagrams Click LINK (http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov/rationale.htm)

What would be the feasability of making something like a 100 ton "bullet" that they could "shoot the moon" with. Or Mars for that matter.

Verne is that you?

100 ton bullet?

I think we could probably build the gun.

Don't think that would be at all feasible though.

Distances are too great and there would be absolutely no course correcting in transit with a bullet.

Samm

July 19th, 2009, 4:21 pm

100 ton bullet?

I think we could probably build the gun.

Don't think that would be at all feasible though.

Distances are too great and there would be absolutely no course correcting in transit with a bullet.

No problem... just get Sarah Palin to take the shot. ;)

Pauper66

July 19th, 2009, 4:22 pm

Samm

July 19th, 2009, 4:27 pm

LouC

July 19th, 2009, 6:56 pm

Awesome info-THANKS!

I was thinking of something like a projectile that could shot off or rocket driven from lunar orbit.

I'm really torn when it comes to space-on the one hand....all that money-think of what it could invested in earthly porojects and oceanic research.

On the other-I AM A SPACE JUNKIE!!!

First off the money spent on space research, especially for independent self sustaining habitats on the Moon and eventually Mars, is not money that is being diverted from worthwhile earth based research and study.

That is a myth.

Look at the picture below.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/spaceshipone.jpg

Now think about it, that is the earth as seen from the Kayuga orbiter that Japan recently sent to the Moon.

Now think about what would happen to mankind if that Spaceship Earth got torpedoed by a yet undetected large civilization killing asteroid?

We know they happen.

We also know how destructive mankind can be all by ourselves.

Have you seen the movie On The Beach?

Would we not want to have footholds somewhere else, as soon as possible, if the worse case scenarios were to happen here?

Also every development in space survival research and space research has immediate practical applications in earth based uses.

Advanced power systems, advanced consumable reprocessing systems, life support systems in finite closed environments, are just some of the things that will go far here at home as well.

Now I want you to think about being torn, regarding the NASA funding, and then look at this little list I put together below.

$50 million for a 4-and-a-half acre indoor rain forest in Coralville, Iowa

$1 million for the Anchorage Museum

$250 million dollars to repair a swimming pool in Sparks, Nevada.

$200,000 to the University of Hawaii to produce a documentary on Kalahari Bushmen

$220,000 to the University of Maine to renovate a blueberry research center

$500 thousand to University of Akron for a program called "Exercises in Hard Choices," examining how Congress makes budget decisions

$25,000 study of Mariachi music in Las Vegas

$80,000 hangout in San Diego for gays, lesbian, bisexuals and transgender

$100,000 went to a Punxsutawney Phil museum in Pennsylvania

$175,000 was assigned for a therapeutic center for horses

$3 million to Alaska to help them sell Alaskan seafood

$18 million to rebuild the Recovery.gov web site which was perfectly adequate and completely functional

$1.8 million to study why pigs smell

$1.9 million for a water taxi in Connecticut

$3.8 million to preserve a baseball stadium in Detroit

$380,000 for a fairgrounds in Kotzebue, Alaska, just above the Arctic Circle

$480 million to develop a spare engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter even though the Air Force concluded in 2005 that it was redundant — and two independent review boards agreed.

The money going to NASA isn’t being diverted from worthy projects.

The money going to stuff like what is on that list is the real money being diverted from your worthy projects.

I am a space junkie too, for good reason.

I look at the Kayuga picture and realize we are all space men and space women clinging to a little ball of dust air and water called Earth, a little planet sized life raft in the middle of an ocean of space.

LouC

July 19th, 2009, 11:54 pm

Does that make you a "Space Case"? :razz:

No shortage of them around here.

Pauper66

July 20th, 2009, 12:29 am

Does that make you a "Space Case"? :razz:

I certainly have my moments.e is the most recent: (friday afternoon)

I get in my truck for a quick trip to the store, turn on the radio, and I hear,

"...assassination attempt, or actual assassination, depending on the President's condition..."

They go on to talk about transporting to the hospital...the President has been shot...transfusions...

I call my girlfriend, tell her to "QUICK-TURN ON THE NEWS-OBAMA'S BEEN SHOT!!"

My neighbor, who is working in the yard, hears me and is "***?!" I tell her what I hear...she calls her husband at work...

And then on the radio, I hear-"We just got confirmation-the President is dead!"

I inform my GF and my neighbor...Thinking all along WOW-that sure didn't take long.

My GF is telling me there is nothing on the news at all, not on CNN, not the local news, which just happens to be on...

Then....

"This is Walter Kronkite...yadda yadda yadda blah blah blah....

They were replaying his coverage of JFK's assassination, and I just happened to turn on nthe radio at the right/wrong time....

Pauper66

July 20th, 2009, 12:35 am

First off the money spent on space research, especially for independent self sustaining habitats on the Moon and eventually Mars, is not money that is being diverted from worthwhile earth based research and study.

That is a myth...

...The money going to stuff like what is on that list is the real money being diverted from your worthy projects.

I see.

I'd still like to see more money dedicated to oceania/deep sea. I read somewhere we know more about space than we do about our own oceans. Don't know if it's true or not, but it seems like it could be.

LouC

July 20th, 2009, 1:32 am

I see.

I'd still like to see more money dedicated to oceania/deep sea. I read somewhere we know more about space than we do about our own oceans. Don't know if it's true or not, but it seems like it could be.

I agree, the two most extreme environments we have are deep ocean and space, learning to live in one will enable us to live in the other and back again.

I have heard the caveat about our knowledge of space being greater than the knowledge of our oceans.

I don't know how that could be true, but it sounds good when anti NASA people trot it out.

The oceans are finite and our knowledge of them is growing quickly especially with ever increasing abilities of deep sea probes.

Thee is merit in going in both directions.

If Sparks Nevada wants their swimming pool fixed let them have a bake sale or two to fund it.

LouC

July 20th, 2009, 1:34 am

I certainly have my moments.e is the most recent: (friday afternoon)

I get in my truck for a quick trip to the store, turn on the radio, and I hear,

"...assassination attempt, or actual assassination, depending on the President's condition..."

They go on to talk about transporting to the hospital...the President has been shot...transfusions...

I call my girlfriend, tell her to "QUICK-TURN ON THE NEWS-OBAMA'S BEEN SHOT!!"

My neighbor, who is working in the yard, hears me and is "***?!" I tell her what I hear...she calls her husband at work...

And then on the radio, I hear-"We just got confirmation-the President is dead!"

I inform my GF and my neighbor...Thinking all along WOW-that sure didn't take long.

My GF is telling me there is nothing on the news at all, not on CNN, not the local news, which just happens to be on...

Then....

"This is Walter Kronkite...yadda yadda yadda blah blah blah....

They were replaying his coverage of JFK's assassination, and I just happened to turn on nthe radio at the right/wrong time....

Wonder how many people got burned by that one.

Not something to be playing on the radio where people couldn't immediately recognize it was a historical rebroadcast. :twisted:

Pauper66

July 20th, 2009, 1:44 am

And I used laugh at the fact that people were duped by the original War Of The Worlds broadcast.

I can't think of a time in my life where I felt more stupid. But it made for some good laughs later that evening over a few beers.

Dual867PowerMac

July 20th, 2009, 2:05 am

And I used laugh at the fact that people were duped by the original War Of The Worlds broadcast.
It was actually funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

hatman

July 20th, 2009, 2:50 am

Lou, this is primarily for you, for starting this thread and alerting dad and I to the recent photos.

It is approaching July 20th in this timezone, and I've been thinking often of this 40th anniversary of Apollo 11.

I can see as if it was yesterday (at 15), sitting in my best friend's living room in Clear Lake City, Texas with a bunch of folks of all ages, as we watched CBS and Walter Cronkite (rest his soul) desribe the last moments before touchdown, and then "We've landed". A moment never forgotten.

I remember thinking how proud I was of my dad, and my friends' dads, for being part of history.

I remember, a few hours later, sitting with my mom and brothers in our living room in Nassau Bay, a couple miles from the Manned Spacecraft Center, as our black and white TV showed us a picture with the caption "Live from the Moon" when Neil Armstrong stepped off the LM. Mom opened a bottle of Cold Duck and let all of us have a little of it. A moment never forgotten.

I remember that in neither moment my dad was there. He had a job that day ensuring that day was a success, in his own minor way.

i salute dad, and all the other dads and moms, men and women, that made this momentus event happen 40 years ago.

For any skeptics out there, you just don't appreciate what this country can do when it makes a commitment. It was both a tumultuous time and a glorious one.

LouC

July 20th, 2009, 9:51 am

Samm

July 20th, 2009, 3:36 pm

I agree, the two most extreme environments we have are deep ocean and space, learning to live in one will enable us to live in the other and back again.

I have heard the caveat about our knowledge of space being greater than the knowledge of our oceans.

I don't know how that could be true, but it sounds good when anti NASA people trot it out.

The oceans are finite and our knowledge of them is growing quickly especially with ever increasing abilities of deep sea probes.

Thee is merit in going in both directions.

If Sparks Nevada wants their swimming pool fixed let them have a bake sale or two to fund it.

The parallel between outer space and the deep oceans isn't. Think about it... in outer space the "atmospheric" pressure is less than 15 psi lower than here on the surface of Earth and everything weighs nothing. In the deep oceans the pressure is hundreds of times greater than on the surface; even at the bottom of the "sunlight" zone (~650 ft) the pressure is 20 times greater than on the surface or almost 300 psi. And most objects still weigh 2/3 or more than above water and must be moved through a fluid that is 800 times more viscous than air and which often flows (currents) at several feet per second. Then couple all that with visibility measured in yards (with bright floodlights) and you have an environment that is several magnitudes more extreme than outer space.

LouC

July 20th, 2009, 4:24 pm

The parallel between outer space and the deep oceans isn't. Think about it... in outer space the "atmospheric" pressure is less than 15 psi lower than here on the surface of Earth and everything weighs nothing.

I have thought about this.

That non parallel is true for open space.

But we have planets that have atmospheres that are similar in the area of pressure to our ocean depths.

If we are going to space to just float around between the planets then yes that aspect alone is not parallel.

Surviving in encapsulated environments in the ocean and in space on other planets will have many similarities.

In the deep oceans the pressure is hundreds of times greater than on the surface; even at the bottom of the "sunlight" zone (~650 ft) the pressure is 20 times greater than on the surface or almost 300 psi. And most objects still weigh 2/3 or more than above water and must be moved through a fluid that is 800 times more viscous than air and which often flows (currents) at several feet per second. Then couple all that with visibility measured in yards (with bright floodlights) and you have an environment that is several magnitudes more extreme than outer space.

I heard in grade school that the earths atmosphere is really an ocean. An ocean of oxygen, nitrogen and other elements, and that we live at the bottom of that ocean. What you have described above sounds much like the extreme elemental atmosphere oceans on other planets. We may, by first sending probes that can withstand the extremes, very well discover real reasons to send people into those depths. I do not discount any possibility.

Samm

July 20th, 2009, 5:22 pm

I have thought about this.

That non parallel is true for open space.

But we have planets that have atmospheres that are similar in the area of pressure to our ocean depths.

If we are going to space to just float around between the planets then yes that aspect alone is not parallel.

Surviving in encapsulated environments in the ocean and in space on other planets will have many similarities.

I heard in grade school that the earths atmosphere is really an ocean. An ocean of oxygen, nitrogen and other elements, and that we live at the bottom of that ocean. What you have described above sounds much like the extreme elemental atmosphere oceans on other planets. We may, by first sending probes that can withstand the extremes, very well discover real reasons to send people into those depths. I do not discount any possibility.

Yes... exploration of our "gas giants" would be similar to exploring the depths of the oceans, but there is virtually no possibility that manned exploration of those environs will ever be attempted... what would be the point? Robot craft are far more practical and can obtain 99.9999% (ok... I made that up ;) ) of the data that a manned flight could.

LouC

July 21st, 2009, 8:45 am

Salute to ASU for their fine participation in this effort.

The next astronauts to go to the moon will know where to land, thanks to a powerful camera run by one of ASU's own.

ASU will play a key role in the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. Mark Robinson, professor of geological sciences in ASUs School of Earth and Space Exploration, is the principal investigator for the imaging system on board, known as LROC (short for Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera).

These efforts are in preparation for human lunar flights beginning in 2020. The new moon program, named Project Constellation, isn't a rehash of Apollo. While the Orion manned lunar spacecraft being developed owes many elements to Apollo, it will carry four to six astronauts (compared with Apollo's three), and it is part of a much more ambitious program.

More information when you Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/EPO/History/panel1.html)

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/LRO.jpg

LRO

LouC

July 23rd, 2009, 10:54 am

Latest LRO released image is a 3D compilation that does nothing but give my bad eyes pains when I try to view the image.

However if you have 3D glasses shoved in a drawer leftover from some movie you had seen you might want to whip them out an take a look.

Also if you are a teacher I am providing a link on making 3D glasses as a sort of class project to view the image.

Class Room Glasses Click LINK (http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/classroom/glasses.shtml)

3D Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/Lincoln_Scarp_1000x1000_3D.png)

Spectacular view of Lee Lincoln scarp obtained in stereo by imaging off-nadir (looking off to the side) from two adjacent orbits. Scene is approximately 2.7 km across [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

LRO Latest Image Page With More Information Regarding The Image And It's Importance Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/77-The-Moon-in-3D.html)

LouC

July 27th, 2009, 9:37 am

Jupiter Impact Hubble Image Click LINK (http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/372829main_p0923ay.jpg)

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has taken the sharpest visible-light picture yet of atmospheric debris from an object that collided with Jupiter on July 19. NASA scientists decided to interrupt the recently refurbished observatory's checkout and calibration to take the image of a new, expanding spot on the giant planet on July 23.

Discovered by Australian amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley, the spot was created when a small comet or asteroid plunged into Jupiter's atmosphere and disintegrated. The only other time such a feature has been seen on Jupiter was 15 years ago after the collision of fragments from comet Shoemaker-Levy 9.

"Because we believe this magnitude of impact is rare, we are very fortunate to see it with Hubble," said Amy Simon-Miller of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "Details seen in the Hubble view shows a lumpiness to the debris plume caused by turbulence in Jupiter's atmosphere."

The new Hubble images also confirm that a May servicing visit by space shuttle astronauts was a big success.

Full article with more information Click LINK (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/jupiter-hubble.html)

I don't know if NASA is planning on using the Hubble telescope to view the moon when the LCROSS mission ending impacts occur in October, but it could be on the agenda.

Enjoy the Image.

There is nothing new from the LRO since the 3D image I posted about earlier.

snagswolf

July 27th, 2009, 9:56 am

Class Room Glasses Click LINK (http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/classroom/glasses.shtml)

3D Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/Lincoln_Scarp_1000x1000_3D.png)
That 3D stuff is pretty cool. I'm going to have to get some 3D glasses and make some 3D photos.

LouC

July 27th, 2009, 10:01 am

That 3D stuff is pretty cool. I'm going to have to get some 3D glasses and make some 3D photos.

I haven't found any 3D glasses or the materials to make some so I can fully appreciate the the LRO image. :(

snagswolf

July 27th, 2009, 10:55 am

I haven't found any 3D glasses or the materials to make some so I can fully appreciate the the LRO image. :(
Here ya go - free 3D glasses:

http://www.rainbowsymphony.com/freestuff.html

LouC

July 27th, 2009, 11:00 am

Here ya go - free 3D glasses:

http://www.rainbowsymphony.com/freestuff.html

Thanks

But are you familiar with the site and their legitimacy?

snagswolf

July 27th, 2009, 11:59 am

Thanks

But are you familiar with the site and their legitimacy?
While surfing around the web doing some research, I noticed that they were referred to by another website:

http://www.swell3d.com/glasses/

I am not happy to see such a good source of 3-D glasses disappear, and I hope they come back soon. For now, if you need 3D glasses, I recommend buying from Rainbow Symphony, whose bulk prices are higher than MovieVision's, but a little lower than American Paper Optics.

LouC

July 27th, 2009, 1:04 pm

While surfing around the web doing some research, I noticed that they were referred to by another website:

http://www.swell3d.com/glasses/

Thanks

snagswolf

July 27th, 2009, 1:15 pm

Thanks
You're welcome.

Everybody get their free 3D glasses now, because when I make my 3D photos, you're going to want to see them!

/end of thread hijack

LouC

July 27th, 2009, 1:37 pm

You're welcome.

Everybody get their free 3D glasses now, because when I make my 3D photos, you're going to want to see them!

/end of thread hijack

Cool, I am all curious now what 3D pictures are you making?

LouC

July 28th, 2009, 10:00 am

Updates On the LROC: Continuing To Calibrate

Move actions helping to get the orbiter into its final brass tacks mapping mode.

This is a long term serious mission and was not just a shoot and scoot for the fun of it.

Getting closer also to those better images of the Apollo landing sites that will be coming some time in September if everything remains on schedule.

But those images are not by any means the only goal here, but a return to the Moon can certainly be aided by a better look at where we have been.

LROC began performing its star calibrations this week!

One of the critical calibration tasks associated with space imaging systems is determining a) the amount of light passed through the optical system and measured by the detector, and b) determining where your instrument is pointing.

As you can imagine, these are important parameters to verify! The pointing is incredibly critical, because if you can't predict where your camera is going to image, you won't be able to target regions of interest correctly.

We can collect data to help analyze both of these parameters by pointing the three LROC instruments at bright stars whose position is known exactly and whose magnitude (brightness) is well constrained.

This is a complicated maneuver involving yawing the spacecraft, then using the LRO's Reaction Control System to slowly scan across bright stars (such as Vega and Canopus).

When a bright star shows up in the images collected by LROC, then we can use this information to validate both the pointing and our camera settings.

Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/81-Pointing-at-distant-stars.html)

LouC

July 28th, 2009, 10:14 am

Latest Image from the LROC

A mare-highlands boundary in northern Mare Frigoris. Image width is 1.8 km [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/nacl0000103b-1000pixels1.png

Detailed description of what the image shows.

Cool stuff, especially the impact that left the crater on the line of demarcation.

Detail from a NAC frame centered on an impact crater that formed on the contact between two different geologic units: a highland massif (lighter gray, higher albedo, top-right side of image) and mare lava flows (darker gray, lower albedo, bottom-left side of image) in northern Mare Frigoris.

Contacts such as this one are important to geologists because they provide information on the relative time of formation between the features.

In this example, the lava flowed against the pre-existing massif, so we can infer that the lava flows are younger.

The crater formed across both the massif and the lava flows, therefore we can infer this impact event occurred after the volcanic eruptions that formed the lava flows.

Notice that the rim of the crater is no longer discernable on the massiff side because it is partially buried by material from the steep slope that has slumped down after the crater formed.

The crater rim is more prominent along the side with the lava flows, because this area is flat and stable.

Boulders are also more prominent along the crater wall within the lava flow versus the part of the crater wall along the massif because any boulders that may have been on the rim were buried by slumping.

A quick analysis of this small area illustrates the principles of stratigraphy used by geologists to unravel the geologic history of a location.

The same stratigraphic principles are applied on a regional scale to create geologic maps of the lunar surface which are important for determining the timing of events that shaped the Moon.

LROC images will allow scientists to examine contact relationships at a very high resolution.

Such detailed information will sharpen the ability of mission planners for future human and robotic exploration of the Moon.

Uncalibrated data, north is up, scene is approximately 1.8 km across.

Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/78-Relative-Timing-of-Geologic-Events-in-Mare-Frigoris.html)

Samm

July 28th, 2009, 5:33 pm

I haven't found any 3D glasses or the materials to make some so I can fully appreciate the the LRO image. :(

I have my 3D glasses from that last Pixar movie... I cannot see any difference in the photo you posted. Maybe the screen color is off...

LouC

July 28th, 2009, 6:56 pm

I have my 3D glasses from that last Pixar movie... I cannot see any difference in the photo you posted. Maybe the screen color is off...

The last one I posted wasn't 3D, posted it today, it was the LROC image before that.

I haven't got glasses so I haven't had a chance to see if it looks different.

LouC

July 29th, 2009, 7:28 pm

For Image
Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/nacl00000e09-1000px.png)

LROC NAC frame closeup of crater wall and terrace in Bürg crater (45.0°N, 28.2°E). The outer rim of the crater is along the right side of the frame. Image width is 1.62 km [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University]

Bürg is a 40-km diameter, Copernican-aged, complex crater located within Lacus Mortis (the Lake of Death) on the nearside of the Moon. Complex craters, like this one, have terraced walls and a central peak (not shown here). The rim of the crater is along the right side and the walls slope down towards the left of the image. The terrace shown is ~1 km wide and is pockmarked with smaller craters. Terraces form as sections of the crater wall slump downward after the impact. Note that there are very few impact craters on the wall of the crater. Usually fewer craters indicate a surface is younger, however in this case its simply that material slides down the crater wall's steep slopes erasing craters. See Chapter 3 in the Geologic History of the Moon by Don Wilhelms for more information about lunar impact craters.

Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/79-Terraced-Wall-in-B%C3%BCrg-Crater.html)

Latest LRO Image.

People, I know I was one of those, may look at the Moon and think it is geologically static but that is far from the case.

Samm

July 29th, 2009, 8:25 pm

The last one I posted wasn't 3D, posted it today, it was the LROC image before that.

I haven't got glasses so I haven't had a chance to see if it looks different.

I am referring to the image linked in your post No. 113. That one is supposed to be 3D, right?

With the "Pixar" glasses that I have, it looks sort of 3D, but it is not very good. Either the coloration they used did not transmit well or my monitor color is off a little.

LouC

July 30th, 2009, 9:02 am

I am referring to the image linked in your post No. 113. That one is supposed to be 3D, right?

With the "Pixar" glasses that I have, it looks sort of 3D, but it is not very good. Either the coloration they used did not transmit well or my monitor color is off a little.

That is the 3D image.

Don't know what to say, it could be more the overhead angle that is at fault, or the things you mentioned.

:think:

Obviously NASA is hiding something. :D

Samm

July 30th, 2009, 3:52 pm

That is the 3D image.

Don't know what to say, it could be more the overhead angle that is at fault, or the things you mentioned.

:think:

Obviously NASA is hiding something. :D

Probably disguising the "innies" as "outies" so that it makes it look like the sunlight is coming from the other direction so they won't have to redo their moon landing movie sets... :shifty:

LouC

July 30th, 2009, 5:18 pm

Probably disguising the "innies" as "outies" so that it makes it look like the sunlight is coming from the other direction so they won't have to redo their moon landing movie sets... :shifty:

Where is Frank?

Hope he is hale and hearty and perhaps somewhere on a beach sipping a cold beverage of choice?

Haven't heard from him since about the 12th?

:think:

Cue the Segue Queen..... :dance:

Samm

July 30th, 2009, 7:19 pm

Where is Frank?

Hope he is hale and hearty and perhaps somewhere on a beach sipping a cold beverage of choice?

Haven't heard from him since about the 12th?

:think:

Cue the Segue Queen..... :dance:

I think Frank is on another hiatus... he took Liability's voluntary departure personally. I think this is the third time he has "quit" Hannity. ;)

LouC

July 30th, 2009, 7:45 pm

I think Frank is on another hiatus... he took Liability's voluntary departure personally. I think this is the third time he has "quit" Hannity. ;)

That is a shame, I know he was taking it poorly, Liability making another dramatic exit, but I didn't think it would lead to Frank leaving.

LouC

August 4th, 2009, 5:06 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/M103138324L.png

Small (250 m diameter) fresh impact crater surrounded by an asymmetrical bright ejecta blanket [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

For Full Zoomable Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/M103138324L-1000x1000.png)

High reflectance ejecta usually indicates a young age for the crater's formation, or at least young for the Moon (less than 500 million years). Over time, ejecta blankets such as this will fade and disappear into the background. Since the ejecta is still relatively young, details of its shape are easily seen in this LROC image (1.1 meters per pixel). Close inspection of ejecta patterns help scientists determine dynamics of the impact event. In this case the "V" shaped gap in the bright ejecta shows the impactor came from the northwest at a very low angle.

The floor of the crater has numerous blocks as large as 13 meters that may be pieces of bedrock excavated from below the regolith (lunar soil); or they may have formed as a result of the impact. This type of boulder can be thought of as "instant rock", because under the extremely high pressure produced by an impact the loose regolith is consolidated into a coherent block or boulder. Apollo astronauts discovered these instant rocks (or regolith breccias) at several locations, with perhaps the most notable being Van Serg crater at the Apollo 17 landing site. Image is 1100 meters wide, north is up, subarea from uncalibrated NAC frame M103138324L.

Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/84-Bright-Crater-Rays-and-Boulders.html)

For those who are interested, emjoy!

LouC

August 5th, 2009, 7:42 pm

Bump

Where is everyone?

Samm

August 5th, 2009, 7:59 pm

Bump

Where is everyone?

Somewhere... everybody has to be somewhere. :razz:

Just enjoying the pics Lou... no need to comment. Waiting for those hi-rez pictures of the landing sites for that. ;)

LouC

August 5th, 2009, 8:02 pm

Somewhere... everybody has to be somewhere. :razz:

Just enjoying the pics Lou... no need to comment. Waiting for those hi-rez pictures of the landing sites for that. ;)

I miss Frank and the Segue Queen, and them causing me all sorts of conscription fits.... :(

They predicted the HighRes pics of the landing sites would be shot in September, it is getting closer. :dance:

LouC

August 11th, 2009, 6:28 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/tsiol438_lr_area.png

Hummocks and blocks on the ejecta blanket of Tsiolkovskiy crater. Image width is 830 meters [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Full size zoomable image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/tsiol438_lr_area.png)

LouC

August 11th, 2009, 6:30 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/M101477147LE_1000.png

LROC NAC frame showing a string of secondary craters from an impact crater to the north, probably Giordano Bruno. Image width is 4.5 km [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Full size zoomable image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/M101477147LE_1000.png)

A northwest-trending string of fresh secondary craters formed by debris thrown out of a larger impact, most likely Giordano Bruno (525 km to the north). The chain is about 4.5 km long and the largest crater at the southeast end is about 340 m in diameter. The morphology of the impact suggests that the debris impacted the surface at a low angle, heading to the south.

Smaller pieces at the northwest end churned and scoured the surface while the larger pieces at the southeast end formed round craters. Secondary craters are common on the lunar surface and occur both in chains and as isolated small craters. It is easy to identify secondary craters when they form in chains, but it is much more difficult to distinguish individual secondary craters.

Subset of uncalibrated LROC NAC image M101477174L; Image width is 4.5 km; north is up.

LouC

August 11th, 2009, 6:32 pm

Birds Eye View Of LROC Videos
Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/lrolive/#loc=pane&category=birds)

4 videos listed on the left side of the page that you can view by clicking on them.

Expand the page and start them up and it is almost like you are in the LRO looking out a portal at the Moon passing below.

LouC

August 12th, 2009, 6:55 pm

Pauper66

August 13th, 2009, 2:32 am

Incredible images. I'm not online much, but when I am, I look for this thread.

merickson

August 13th, 2009, 2:53 am

Thank you Lou.

LouC

August 13th, 2009, 10:00 am

Incredible images. I'm not online much, but when I am, I look for this thread.

Thanks

I am glad to know that.

These are some great images and I am always learning with each new one.

LouC

August 13th, 2009, 10:02 am

Thank you Lou.

You are welcome.

Has anyone opened the videos and watch the Moonscapes pass by?

Makes me feel like I am in a LM looking for a place to land.

Fire Watch

August 13th, 2009, 2:09 pm

Fake. All fake.

CaughtInTheMiddle

August 13th, 2009, 2:13 pm

LouC

August 13th, 2009, 3:37 pm

Fake. All fake.

:))

Wait, are you serious? :think:

LouC

August 13th, 2009, 3:38 pm

Just get 'em to put "Palin" or "Death Panel" in the title.

Yeah, that would probably do it... :frown:

Fire Watch

August 13th, 2009, 5:42 pm

:))

Wait, are you serious? :think:

Yeah, that's me, the big conspiracy theorist.

StoneScratcher

August 14th, 2009, 9:40 am

Hello?????

Is this thread on?????

Maybe I should ask the Mods to change the thread title to: "Geraldo Rivera Finds Missing Birth Certificate In Sara Palin's Floating Moon Castle's Secret Dungeon"... :think:

I'd comment and I even had a question on one of the pictures I had downloaded to my computer so I could look at it in PSP and zoom in.

I have questions, but I thought--why bother asking? You don't allow questions unless they're from your list of approved ones. :think: Or if I ask, I'm labeled fringe.

Again, even by my posting this--I'm sure you'll mock my inquisitive nature. :boohoo:

Thanks for posting the pictures though.

LouC

August 14th, 2009, 10:18 am

I'd comment and I even had a question on one of the pictures I had downloaded to my computer so I could look at it in PSP and zoom in.

I have questions, but I thought--why bother asking? You don't allow questions unless they're from your list of approved ones. :think: Or if I ask, I'm labeled fringe.

Again, even by my posting this--I'm sure you'll mock my inquisitive nature. :boohoo:

Thanks for posting the pictures though.

.

LouC

August 14th, 2009, 2:11 pm

I'd comment and I even had a question on one of the pictures I had downloaded to my computer so I could look at it in PSP and zoom in.

Good for you.

I have questions, but I thought--why bother asking?

Only two reasons I can think of off hand that a person wouldn't bother asking.

1) They believe they know the answer already.

2) They irrationally fear the response.

You don't allow questions unless they're from your list of approved ones.

That my dear is a patently false claim, why make such a false claim, why impugn me so?

Or if I ask, I'm labeled fringe.

Never have I labeled you "fringe" in this forum, that is another patently false accusation, as it might pertain to me.

Again, even by my posting this--I'm sure you'll mock my inquisitive nature.

Why bear this false witness against me?

I just don't understand this... :think:

Thanks for posting the pictures though.

You are welcome, I think.

LouC

August 15th, 2009, 9:35 am

PDF Press Kit With Really Interesting Information Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/EPO/DOCS/LRO_LCROSS_presskit.pdf)

LouC

August 18th, 2009, 8:33 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/aristarchus_inner.png

Sinuous rille winding its way across a much larger rille in the heart of the Aristarchus Plateau, image width 1.76 km [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Zoomable Image Of Smaller Image Above Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/aristarchus_inner.png)

Vallis Schröteri, the largest rille on the Moon, originates on the Aristarchus Plateau and is comprised of three key morphologic features (below): the Cobra Head, the primary rille (155 km long), and the inner rille (204 km long). Rilles are believed to have formed as large volumes of very fluid magma erupted and flowed rapidly from the vent. Scientists are not certain how rilles are formed - that's one of many questions that future human lunar explorers will answer. Experts currently think that molten lava may carve a channel into the lunar surface (erosional model), or levees may form at the margins of the flow confining it (constructional model). Some lunar sinuous rilles may have started as collapsed lava tubes and were later modified to their final form. Lunar sinuous rilles do form by volcanic eruptions, but the details of how they get their "river-like" shape are also a mystery. The LROC NAC frame (above) shows a section of the inner rille about halfway down its length where it is about 600 m wide and the primary rille about 4300 m. LROC will provide high resolution stereo images of many lunar rilles to help scientists discriminate between the competing models of formation. The geologic complexity of Aristarchus Plateau and its rich, easily accessible deposits of potential resources make it an exciting landing site for future human exploration missions. LROC Image: Uncalibrated data; north is up; Image width is approximately 1.76 km

Zoomable Image: Explore the full Apollo Metric frame of Vallis Schröteri and the Aristarchus Plateau.
Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/AristarchusPlateau.jpg)

Samm

August 18th, 2009, 10:46 pm

Kind of looks like someone dropped a water balloon there (at the "cobra head") Lou. Ice comet? The prevailing theory is that is where Earth got most of its water...

If it was lava... where is the lava now? The rills just peter out with nothing to be seen at the end of them.

StoneScratcher

August 19th, 2009, 7:29 am

Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/AristarchusPlateau.jpg)

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/aristarchus_inner.png

Copy cats!

http://garethrwhite.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/the_scream-cropped.jpg

LouC

August 19th, 2009, 9:31 am

Kind of looks like someone dropped a water balloon there (at the "cobra head") Lou. Ice comet? The prevailing theory is that is where Earth got most of its water...

I see that?

Hard for me to tell, could it be the lighting?

I don't see it as being remnants of an Ice Comet not out in the open like that.

If it was lava... where is the lava now? The rills just peter out with nothing to be seen at the end of them.

Rills are flow remnants and the flows, like here on earth, peter out eventually.

Lava on the Moon's surface has been subject to how many millions of years of abrading by meteorites and micro meteorites, which has a weathering effect on the lava, not to be confused with earth like weathering.

That might have something to do with it?

LouC

August 19th, 2009, 9:34 am

Copy cats!

http://garethrwhite.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/the_scream-cropped.jpg

:))

Just can't trust those Lunarians... :evil:

gwhughes

August 19th, 2009, 9:36 am

Where the **** is the cheese?!?!

:)

Nice pics Lou, thanks for posting them.

LouC

August 19th, 2009, 10:15 am

Where the **** is the cheese?!?!

:)

Nice pics Lou, thanks for posting them.

:))

You had to mention cheese, now I have the munchies...

You are welcome for the pics.

Still anxious for the upcoming Lunar landing sites improved quality pics they said we should start seeing in September. :dance:

gwhughes

August 19th, 2009, 10:31 am

I'm over the "moon" pictures, can't wait till they start taking closeup pics of those pinholes in black construction paper they call "stars."

What horse****!

LouC

August 19th, 2009, 2:02 pm

I'm over the "moon" pictures, can't wait till they start taking closeup pics of those pinholes in black construction paper they call "stars."

What horse****!

:think:

Pinhole Astrophotography
Click LINK (http://users.erols.com/njastro/barry/pages/pinhole.htm)

Samm

August 19th, 2009, 5:59 pm

I see that?

Hard for me to tell, could it be the lighting?

I don't see it as being remnants of an Ice Comet not out in the open like that.

What do you mean "out in the open"? The whole friggin moon is out in the open. ;)

You cannot tell the magnitude of the vertical relief in these photos. The "source" of the flow could be considerably higher than the bottom of the rile. A large chunk of comet ice from a much older strike could have been buried there and melted quickly due to the heat of the much more recent adjacent strike that created Herodotus.

But to me, it looks like a hunk of comet ice buried itself into the relatively soft unconsolidated duff ejected by the Herodotus strike and then melted (because there is no atmosphere, the comet would not break up during descent.) If it was a comet that created Herodotus (which given its shallow flat-bottom nature, I believe it was a comet) the ice possibly could even have come from it. The bulk of the water then carved out the primary rile and the decreasing, but longer lasting flow of the remnants carved the inner rile.

Regardless... I see nothing there that resembles a lava flow. It clearly comes out of the ejecta from Herodotus.

Rills are flow remnants and the flows, like here on earth, peter out eventually.

Lava on the Moon's surface has been subject to how many millions of years of abrading by meteorites and micro meteorites, which has a weathering effect on the lava, not to be confused with earth like weathering.

That might have something to do with it?

As I pointed out, the riles are clearly younger than the Herodotus crater since they cut through the ejecta; and that crater shows relatively little sign of age. The riles "peter out" like water flowing on porous ground. Lava leaves a solidified feature at its terminus even if it erodes ground as it is flowing; it does not "soak in."

nortman

August 19th, 2009, 6:44 pm

Great, more moon landings planned. Now we get to listen to more wackos tell us that they never happened.

LouC

August 19th, 2009, 10:33 pm

...Now we get to listen to more wackos tell us that they never happened.

They haven't happened. :dance:

LouC

August 19th, 2009, 10:48 pm

LouC

August 22nd, 2009, 10:43 am

Latest offering from the LROC orbiter.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/cracks.png
Cracks form in the impact melt sheet on the floor of Necho Crater. Image width is 1.04 km [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Full Size Zoomable image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/FI_Cracks_M103703826LE2_1000px.png)

Necho is a Copernican-aged, 30-km diameter crater on the far side of the Moon (5° S, 123° E). Named after an Egyptian pharaoh, this crater formed in the lunar highlands and has a complex structure and morphology. The bright rays of the crater and lack of superimposed impacts is evidence that Necho is a young, fresh crater. Similar to other young impact craters the floor is flooded with massive amounts impact melt. Impact melt is instant lava, lunar rock melted in an instant as the tremendous energy of impact is released. The melt pools in the bottom of the crater, perches on terraces and flows down the flanks. Often times distinct flows can be found that look just like lava flows found on Earth. This portion of the NAC frame (above) shows cracks, 10 to 15 m wide, within the impact melt on the crater floor which formed as the melt cooled and the crater floor was readjusting. Scroll around in the whole image Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M103703826LE) and see how many impact melt features you can find.

LROC NAC Image M103703826LE: Uncalibrated data; north is up; Image width is approximately 1.04 km. [ 0.65 miles ] Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/92-Necho-Crater.html)

Explore a full Apollo metric frame (AS17-M-1142) of Necho Crater Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/apollo/view?image_id=AS17-M-1142)

Read a research article by Gifford et al. (1979) on the geology of Necho Crater (slow opening) Click LINK (http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?1979M%26P....21...25G&data_type=PDF_HIGH&whole_paper=YES&type=PRINTER&filetype=.pdf)

Enjoy.

Samm

August 22nd, 2009, 4:25 pm

Latest offering from the LROC orbiter.

Enjoy.

Clearly that is nothing more than a close up of elephant skin. :snooty:

hatman

August 22nd, 2009, 10:32 pm

Expanded page with additional images of the latest LROC image of the Apollo 14 landing sight.

Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/91-Trail-of-Discovery-at-Fra-Mauro.html#extended)

Single Uncalibrated LROC NAC image of the Apollo 14 landing site and nearby Cone crater.

The trail followed by the astronauts can clearly be discerned. Image width is 1.6 km.

Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/ap14_area_5de_v2.png)

Lou,
Many thanks once again for these links. This one is especially good, showing the tracks of the astronauts. Awesome.
Maybe one day we'll be able to find Shepard's golf ball. :) It's there somewhere.
I really appreciate this service you're providing.
Dad will especially like this link.

LouC

August 23rd, 2009, 1:17 pm

Clearly that is nothing more than a close up of elephant skin. :snooty:

I actually expected someone to say that it looked like elephant skin (or post a segue photo of a closeup of elephant skin) and lo and behold I was right.

:))

LouC

August 23rd, 2009, 1:20 pm

Lou,
Many thanks once again for these links. This one is especially good, showing the tracks of the astronauts. Awesome.
Maybe one day we'll be able to find Shepard's golf ball. :) It's there somewhere.
I really appreciate this service you're providing.
Dad will especially like this link.

Glad you and dad are enjoying it.

It is my pleasure to bring these out for people.

Wouldn't that golf ball make for a heck of a display case trophy?

Samm

August 23rd, 2009, 4:46 pm

I actually expected someone to say that it looked like elephant skin (or post a segue photo of a closeup of elephant skin) and lo and behold I was right.

:))

Oh sure... You say that now. :rolleyes:

:razz:

LouC

August 24th, 2009, 9:23 am

Click LINK (http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/380730main_Cam1_W0000_T3164424m528_pcs%5B1%5D.jpg) Image Credit: NASA

In the early hours of Aug. 17, 2009, LCROSS caught a unique glimpse of the Earth and its moon from its unique vantage point in space. These images were taken as part of an activity to provide additional instrument calibration data in preparation for impact observations on October 9, 2009.

LCROSS Mission Web Page
Click LINK (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/main/index.html)

Don't forget this Mission is ongoing as well as the LRO Mission.

StoneScratcher

August 24th, 2009, 11:04 am

I actually expected someone to say that it looked like elephant skin (or post a segue photo of a closeup of elephant skin) and lo and behold I was right.

:))

Republicans got there first, no doubt.

LouC

August 24th, 2009, 11:21 am

Republicans got there first, no doubt.

Well Republican President Nixon did make the first phone call to an American astronaut on the Moon, but I don't know if he was soliciting a campaign donation from Neil?

LouC

August 25th, 2009, 2:47 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/erlanger1.png

Small portion of the rim of Erlanger crater (10 km in diameter). Much of its floor remains in permanent shadow due to its location near the north pole. Image width 2.65 km, north is up [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Zoomable Full Size Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/erlanger_crescent.png)

The LRO and LCROSS missions are both collecting data to test the hypothesis that ices may be trapped in permanently shadowed craters near the lunar poles. How could ices survive on the Moon? We know that the surface of the Moon reaches very high temperatures during the day and it is exposed to the vacuum of space - neither condition is conducive to ice. However, since the Moon's spin axis is tilted only a very small amount, the floors of some craters near the poles never receive any sunlight. In these permanently shadowed regions the temperature hovers somewhere at or below 50 degrees Kelvin (or -370 degrees Fahrenheit). At those temperatures, any water molecules (from sources like ice-rich cometary impacts) that fall into such a crater will be permanently trapped.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/erlanger2.png

Reduced resolution (6x; 11.4 m/pixel) mosaic of Erlanger crater.

Zoomable Full Size Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/erlanger_reduce6x.png)

There are many craters on the Moon where some or all of their floors are permanently shadowed, and Erlanger is just one. We do not know if Erlanger harbors ices, however a clever experiment involving LRO and the Indian lunar orbiter Chandrayaan was carried out last week to peer into Erlanger with radar waves. Both spacecraft have radars, so the Chandrayaan radar illuminated the interior of Erlanger while LRO passed below the Indian spacecraft and received the reflected radar waves coming from the crater in an innovative bistatic radar experiment. The bistatic radar strategy allows scientists to better determine the nature of materials on the surface.

Understanding the nature of trapped volatiles at the lunar poles is incredibly important. Those trapped volatiles could let lunar scientists unravel a record of water in the Solar System dating back for at least several hundred million years, offering priceless insights into the history of volatiles in the inner Solar System. In addition, any volatiles that exist could be an incredibly useful resource for future lunar inhabitants and a vital stepping-stone for human adventures throughout the inner Solar System. Data from LRO and other lunar missions like Chandraayaan-1 will be used to determine the best places on the Moon to send future human lunar explorers.

Scroll around in the whole two-image mosaic! Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M104417652)

LRO Latest Image Page
Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/95-Eternal-Darkness-Near-the-North-Pole.html)

LouC

August 27th, 2009, 5:15 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/as16_orthophotoThumb.png

Synthetic perspective view looking south from the Apollo 16 landing area, topography is rendered naturally (no vertical exaggeration) [NASA/GSFC/Ohio State University].

Zoomable Full Size Image Of Thumb Image Above Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/as16_orthophoto.png)

LROC has the ability to acquire stereo views by imaging a target from two separate orbits at different viewing angles. Typically stereo pairs are acquired from adjacent orbits to minimize changes in lighting conditions. Computer methods allow very accurate measurements of parallax between features of the two images, from which topographic maps are made. Such maps are termed digital elevation models, commonly called DEMs.

------------------------------------------

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/apollo16_topoThumb.png

Perspective view, LROC image, and DEM [NASA/GSFC/Ohio State University].

Zoomable Full Size Image Of Thumb Image Above Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/apollo16_topo.png)

The area covered by this stereo pair shows the topography seen by the Apollo 16 astronauts, including rolling plains with many impact craters. The 3-D DEM is colored showing elevations, ranging over about 1-kilometer. South Ray crater (A) in the perspective view is 750 meters in diameter and approximately 70 meters deep. The surrounding craters range from several meters in diameter to 1,200 meters. The tallest mountain in the southwest corner (lower right) of the DEM is 880 meters above the plain.
The DEM area [NAC images M102064759 and M102057602; centered at 9° S, 15.4° E] is 50 km long and 7 km wide. The LROC images were taken on July 12, 2009 during LRO orbit 218, near the Apollo 16 landing site. Images were processed using software developed by the Mapping and GIS Laboratory at the Ohio State University.

------------------------------------------

LROC Latest Image Page Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/97-First-LROC-Stereo-Results.html)

Cav Scout

August 27th, 2009, 7:58 pm

Very cool.

So what basement in Arkansas was this done in....lmao!

LouC

August 27th, 2009, 8:47 pm

Very cool.

So what basement in Arkansas was this done in....lmao!

One at a nondescript house just a short way north of Interstate 30 on the west end of Fulton near the Red River where the mosquito swarms get thick as pea soup in the summer.

Cav Scout

August 28th, 2009, 12:26 am

One at a nondescript house just a short way north of Interstate 30 on the west end of Fulton near the Red River where the mosquito swarms get thick as pea soup in the summer.

So your telling me the mosiquito swarms were real? Na I think they were orcastrated...:cool:

Samm

August 28th, 2009, 6:29 am

So your telling me the mosiquito swarms were real? Na I think they were orcastrated...:cool:

Orcastrated... is that the technical term for neutering a killer whale? :eh:

LouC

August 28th, 2009, 7:54 am

Orcastrated... is that the technical term for neutering a killer whale? :eh:

:lol:

LouC

August 29th, 2009, 9:17 am

Bump For Weekend People.

LouC

September 1st, 2009, 9:11 pm

Full Size Zoomable Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/M103668324R_thumb.png)

Boulders perched on the summit of the central peak of Tsiolkovskiy crater [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Tsiolkovskiy (185 km diameter) is a spectacular example of complex impact crater. It has a terraced rim, a central peak, and a floor flooded with mare basalts. Impact events release tremendous amounts of energy and result in very dynamic changes in the local landscape. Just after the initial impact, the central peak was uplifted from lower crustal rock, forming a giant mountain in the middle of the crater. Later large and small pieces of that uplifted rock rolled down and accumulated at the base of the slope -- just waiting for future lunar explorers to examine. This strategy was used by the Apollo 17 astronauts as an easy way to sample nearby mountain tops without having to climb to the top. Frequently it is easy to see where a boulder came from by following its tracks, a great clue to geologists reconstructing the local geology. The largest boulder in this image is about 40 meters wide - half as big as a soccer field! The dark area in the lower right is the tip of enormous shadow cast by the central peak. Scroll north in the full image, and you will find the contact where the later-formed lavas pooled at the base of the peak. Even though the central peak formed before the mare, it has fewer craters due to its steep slope which tends to slump and slide erasing small craters. In this case, that's an apparent violation of the rule that older surfaces have more craters!

At the following Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/2009/08.html) there is some other cool stuff down the page regarding the making of images from blending multiple orbit data.

LouC

September 5th, 2009, 5:06 pm

Apollo 12 Landing Site Zoomable Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/M104662862R_a12.png)

First look at Apollo 12 landing site, the Lunar Module descent stage, Experiment package (ALSEP) and Surveyor 3 spacecraft are all visible along with astronaut tracks (unmarked arrows). Image is 824 meters wide, north up [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Additional Images and Reading Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/98-First-Look-Apollo-12-and-Surveyor-3.html#extended)

More good stuff.

hatman

September 6th, 2009, 12:26 am

More good stuff.

Oh man! Now we're talkin'!!!

Are they going to able to produce even higher resolution pics?
Seems like with just a little bit more, we might be able to even make out the US flag.

LouC

September 6th, 2009, 10:00 am

Oh man! Now we're talkin'!!!

Are they going to able to produce even higher resolution pics?
Seems like with just a little bit more, we might be able to even make out the US flag.

I don't know if that is as good as it is going to get.

The last thing I read is that they are still in but very near the end of the commissioning phase of the mission, which is a full and complete insertion into the permanent orbit configuration and full and complete equipment calibration.

So we might get a little better yet.

hatman

September 6th, 2009, 12:53 pm

I don't know if that is as good as it is going to get.

The last thing I read is that they are still in but very near the end of the commissioning phase of the mission, which is a full and complete insertion into the permanent orbit configuration and full and complete equipment calibration.

So we might get a little better yet.

Latest pic sent to Pops. He's gonna love that one.
Last week he sent me this link to pics of Clear Lake City back in the Apollo days. Nothing as exciting as the LROC pics, but I thought I'd share as it brings back memories of those days to me. I lived in Nassau Bay during Apollo.

http://www.chron.com/community/photogallery/Clear_Lake_in_the_Apollo_era.html#17409407

LouC

September 6th, 2009, 2:07 pm

Latest pic sent to Pops. He's gonna love that one.
Last week he sent me this link to pics of Clear Lake City back in the Apollo days. Nothing as exciting as the LROC pics, but I thought I'd share as it brings back memories of those days to me. I lived in Nassau Bay during Apollo.

http://www.chron.com/community/photogallery/Clear_Lake_in_the_Apollo_era.html#17409407

Thanks

Cool Stuff!

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/Neilwalk.jpg

The moon hangs over Neil Armstrong's house in El Lago as he walks on the moon in July 1969.

I was 12 years old.

snagswolf

September 8th, 2009, 12:44 pm

snagswolf

September 8th, 2009, 12:51 pm

Here ya go - free 3D glasses:

http://www.rainbowsymphony.com/freestuff.html
Finally sent away for the free glasses, and they arrived on Saturday, about a week after I sent the request.

Did an initial test of creating a 3D image, of a flower basket on our kitchen table, and it turned out great.

And the 3D moon images are cool too.

LouC

September 13th, 2009, 8:04 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/M1022.png

The ejecta blanket and rim of Timocharis crater in southeastern Mare Imbrium. Image width is 7.2 km [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Full Size Zoomable Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/M102242995R_thumb.png)

Rim and ejecta of Timocharis, a nearside Eratosthenian-aged impact crater located in southeastern Mare Imbrium. The complete NAC frame cuts through the center of the crater revealing a rich array of details of the interior floor. Timocharis is almost 33 km wide, and has fairly typical morphology for a crater this size. In the Full Nac Strip Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M102242995R), you can see the terraced crater wall and the shadow of the well-defined central peak complex (the central peak itself is just to the west, outside of the frame). The ejecta blanket is the hummocky terrain immediately adjacent to the crater and (as you can see in an oblique Apollo Metric Image Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/apollo/view?image_id=AS15-M-0863)) eventually thins out to smaller "fingers" of ejecta, almost resembling the roots of a willow tree, outside of the NAC frame. The ejecta blanket is covered with numerous smaller impacts, called secondary craters, which occurred after the formation of Timocharis.

Timocharis is important to lunar geologists because it formed fairly recently in the lunar scheme of things, and serves as a guidebook to how older, similarly-sized central peak craters (now degraded after billions of years) probably looked earlier in lunar history. Central peaks are formed by elastic rebound as the crust "decompresses" after the shock of impact, bringing up materials from depth. Depending on the size of the crater, these deep materials could possibly be from as deep as the bottom of the crust (like Copernicus). Studying these deeper rocks give lunar geologists important insights into the nature and structure of the Moon and the other terrestrial planets, like Mercury and Mars. Craters with central peaks like Timocharis are therefore high-priority targets for scientific investigations using orbital sensors as well as the vital follow-up exploration by human explorers.

Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/105-Timocharis-Crater.html)

I certainly hope people are finding these posts enjoyable?

hatman

September 13th, 2009, 8:57 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/M1022.png

Full Size Zoomable Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/M102242995R_thumb.png)

Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/105-Timocharis-Crater.html)

I certainly hope people are finding these posts enjoyable?

Indeed!

Samm

September 13th, 2009, 10:11 pm

I certainly hope people are finding these posts enjoyable?

I won't be happy until I see a close up of the floating castle. :snooty:

MikeJF

September 14th, 2009, 2:05 am

I also don't know if there will be better resolution of the Apollo sites, and I will be very surprised if the pics get any better than this, and you have to wonder, we have telescope cameras on satellites orbiting the earth that can zoom in and read a license plate on a car- why not use that over the moon?

LouC

September 19th, 2009, 4:41 pm

LRO is in Mapping Orbit September 15th, 2009

On September 15th LRO successfully executed its Mission Orbit Insertion (MOI) propulsive maneuver which established the nominal mission orbit. This means the LRO cameras are now in a 50km polar mapping orbit of the Moon, which will result in higher resolution images.

Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/108-LRO-is-in-Mapping-Orbit.html#extended)

50km polar mapping orbit of the Moon, that means lowest approach to the surface will be 31 miles.

LouC

September 19th, 2009, 4:46 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/nacl00001431.png

The inner rim of Milichius A crater in Mare Insularum. Image width is approximately 6 km wide [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Zoomable Full Scale Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/nacl00001431_thumb.png)

Milichius A is a Copernican-aged crater found in the middle of Mare Insularum (upper left). There are many different sizes of impact craters in this view, from 9 km in diameter (Milichius A) all the way down to craters that are just a few meters across. The "cracked" appearance of the rim exterior is a result of impact melt flowing after emplacement, and is fairly common in other similarly-sized, relatively young Copernican-aged craters. You can also see that while there are numerous smaller craters on the surrounding ejecta blanket, the interior of the crater seemingly has far fewer craters than the exterior. Does this mean that there have been no impacts on the inner wall of Milichius A? Probably not - there have almost certainly been many small impacts on the steep surface. Instead, the streaks that you see on the crater walls are places where materials have simply slumped into the crater, covering and obscuring the smaller craters as it slides down the walls of the crater, although some of the darker, low-albedo streaks may actually be impact melt flows.

Uncalibrated LROC NAC data; north is up; image width is 6 km. Browse the whole NAC Image Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/nacl00001431)

Hoagland will love this one, tower shadows all over the place. :mrgreen:

LouC

September 19th, 2009, 4:48 pm

Lunar South Pole - Out of the Shadows

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/shack_spole_v2.png

As the Moon heads into southern summer the region around the south pole is better seen by LROC. One of the many goals of the LRO mission is to improve our cartographic knowledge of the Moon. The location of the pole shown here (image 1600 meters wide) may be in error by several hundred meters, wait a year for an update! [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University]

During the LRO Commissioning Phase, the high-resolution Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) captured this 1-m pixel scale (angular resolution) two-image mosaic of the lunar south pole, which is located on the rim of the 19-km diameter Shackleton crater. At meter scales features such as boulders and ridges can be mapped, paving the way for future explorers. Right now we know little of the poles and much is to be learned from the data now being returned from LRO. The rim of Shackleton crater is a prime candidate for future human exploration due to its proximity to permanently shadowed regions and nearby peaks that are illuminated for much of the year. The permanent shadow may harbor cold-trapped volatiles deposited as comets and asteroids impacted the Moon over the past billion years or more. Highly illuminated peaks provide opportunities for solar power during most of the year for future human habitation.

Over the past year the Japanese Kaguya and Indian Chandrayaan spacecraft gave us our first high-resolution look at the lunar south pole and Shackleton crater and revealed an exceptionally deep and rugged interior for its size. Usually craters fill in with time as their walls slump and material from afar is thrown in by distant impacts. Since Shackleton crater is so deep and rough inside scientists might infer it is relatively young. However, much of the rim of Shackleton appears rounded and is peppered with smaller craters – indications of a relatively ancient age. Right now it is not clear if Shackleton crater is old or young. Many more LROC Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) images of this area will be obtained over the coming months as the south pole emerges from the shadows of winter and a more complete picture will appear.

The full NAC mosaic Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M105824863) reveals a shelf on the southeast flank of the crater that is more than two kilometers across and perfectly suitable for a future landing. The extreme Sun angle gives the surface an exaggerated rough appearance, but if you look closely at this scale any area that is between the small craters might make a good landing site. The NAC can see details with ten times greater resolution than previous datasets allowing lunar geologists to map features at a human scale. Where should explorers land, and where should they visit once on the surface? Where can they find resources, and where can they sample a diversity of geologic materials? Over the coming months the whole area will be characterized in detail by all of the LRO instruments, and scientists will have the data to investigate these questions and more.

Lunar South Pole - Out of the Shadows Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/106-Lunar-South-Pole-Out-of-the-Shadows.html#extended)

Samm

September 19th, 2009, 6:03 pm

Keep 'em coming Lou. ;)

... but when are we going to get the hi-res Apollo landing site close-ups?

LouC

September 19th, 2009, 8:25 pm

Keep 'em coming Lou. ;)

... but when are we going to get the hi-res Apollo landing site close-ups?

:rolleyes:

Don't make me pull this thread over!

I will if I have to. :evil:

Soon they will pass over the sites again, I would imagine, they said likely they would have some this month.

Samm

September 19th, 2009, 8:32 pm

:rolleyes:

Don't make me pull this thread over!

I will if I have to. :evil:

Soon they will pass over the sites again, I would imagine, they said likely they would have some this month.

We want a shot of that castle in the air too. ;)

hatman

September 19th, 2009, 11:58 pm

:rolleyes:

Don't make me pull this thread over!

I will if i have to. :evil:

Soon they will pass over the sites again, i would imagine, they said likely they would have some this month.

i want my apollo closeups, and i want them nowww!!! :((

p.s. Have you, like me, really enjoyed the Mars rover pictures? I am in total awe how well those rovers have worked, even though poor Spirit is still stuck. Kudos to the entire Rover team!

LouC

September 20th, 2009, 9:36 am

i want my apollo closeups, and i want them nowww!!! :((

p.s. Have you, like me, really enjoyed the Mars rover pictures? I am in total awe how well those rovers have worked, even though poor Spirit is still stuck. Kudos to the entire Rover team!

Yeah those were intriguing. The panorama shots are kick butt good.

hatman

September 23rd, 2009, 12:43 am

Yeah those were intriguing. The panorama shots are kick butt good.

(little bump) :)

Seriously though, a couple honest questions:

1. Do you have an efficient link to find all the Apollo landing site pics? I tried to surf the LROC website but it was too time-consuming to find the Apollo pics.

2. Something that always intrigued me: It sometimes (mostly) looks like the light in the moon pics seems 'localized' for lack of a better word at this late hour.
Wouldn't daylight pics be universally blinding, given no atmosphere? I'm guessing it must be the filters on the camera, but I'm camera-illiterate.

I should know better as the son of an Apollo Mission 'veteran', but I don't.

LouC

September 24th, 2009, 9:16 pm

(little bump) :)

Seriously though, a couple honest questions:

1. Do you have an efficient link to find all the Apollo landing site pics? I tried to surf the LROC website but it was too time-consuming to find the Apollo pics.

2. Something that always intrigued me: It sometimes (mostly) looks like the light in the moon pics seems 'localized' for lack of a better word at this late hour.
Wouldn't daylight pics be universally blinding, given no atmosphere? I'm guessing it must be the filters on the camera, but I'm camera-illiterate.

I should know better as the son of an Apollo Mission 'veteran', but I don't.

Sorry I missed this.

Okay, the Apollo pics?

Are you asking about the LROC pics of the landing sites?

Or the original Apollo images?

The cameras on LROC are I believe definitely filtered.

LouC

September 24th, 2009, 9:23 pm

Several LROC NAC sequences were acquired looking across the illuminated limb to quantify scattered light. Not only were these excellent engineering test images but they also presented spectacular oblique views across the lunar surface

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/M106797147_LR_.png

Zoomable Full Size Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/M106797147_LR_thumb.png)

Last week the LRO spacecraft lowered its orbit into the 50-km mapping orbit after three months in an elliptical (30 km by 200 km) commissioning orbit. Many engineering tests were performed with the spacecraft and all the instruments during the busy commissioning phase of the mission. The LROC test images were of deep space, stars, nighttime Moon, and vertical views of the lunar surface. Occasionally some extreme oblique views were shuttered as a result of specific test criteria.

The limb images in this release were part of an image quality test. One measure of a camera's ability to capture fine detail is the amount of light that is scattered in the optics. In a perfect camera, all light rays enter the aperture and end up in focus in the correct pixel. However, in reality some percentage of light is scattered in the optics, off structures in the telescope, or even reflected off the CCD. If there is no scattering, then no light rays strike pixels looking at space - by measuring the signal level in "space pixels" against those seeing the illuminated surface a good measure of light scattering is easily made. As it turns the scattered light in the NACs is very low (a good thing), about one percent.

An added bonus from this engineering test is a spectacular view across the lunar surface! There are no named lunar features in this image, which is centered in the lunar highlands over 450 km northwest of Mare Humboldtianum at approximately 65.5°N, 55.6°E. The large region which appears dark, flat, and level in the distance are not mare basalts as you might expect, but are light plains emplaced as ejecta by large basin-forming impacts. Vast amounts of lunar crust are thrown out in these large basin forming impacts, part of the ejecta travels across the surface in a fluidized manner even though there is no water in the mix. As the flow decelerates it settles to the ground as if it were a fluid, filling low spots and lapping against high standing topography. The exact details of this process are not well understood - another mystery awaiting future lunar explorers!
Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/111-Commissioning-Sequences-Pave-the-Way.html#extended)

LouC

September 24th, 2009, 9:39 pm

Moon Wall Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/112-Moonwall-Exhibit-Opens.html#extended)

Link to the LROC website featuring a video about the Adler Planetarium's new Moon Wall exhibit.

It is a giant wall of high resolution monitors with an interactive interface that can be manipulated by guests to explore the LROC Moon images.

Looks like a blast.

Good place to consider a weekend or day trip if you live close enough.

Adler Planetarium & Museum Click LINK (http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/)

LouC

September 24th, 2009, 10:03 pm

...Seriously though, a couple honest questions...

Okay I hope this all helps.

LROC Cameras
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/EPO/LROC/lroc.php?pg=specifications

First Look: Apollo 12 landing site and Surveyor 3
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/2009/09/03.html

LROC’s First Look at the Apollo 11, 14, 15, 16, & 17 Landing Sites
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/76-LROCs-First-Look-at-the-Apollo-Landing-Sites.html

LROC Instruments
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/spacecraft/index.html

LouC

September 25th, 2009, 2:58 pm

Bump For Day Crew

LouC

September 26th, 2009, 4:46 pm

How sad.

I was looking at some of the LROC videos and accidentily ran across a 10 minute video of a hoax believer trying to debunk the LROC images that have already been posted of the Apollo landing sites.

How sad...

hatman

September 26th, 2009, 5:07 pm

Sorry I missed this.

Okay, the Apollo pics?

Are you asking about the LROC pics of the landing sites?

Or the original Apollo images?

The cameras on LROC are I believe definitely filtered.

Sorry Lou, I wasn't very clear with my second question. I was asking about the original Apollo still pictures taking by the astronauts. Wouldn't the sunlight be more 'blinding' given that there's no atmosphere to filter it?
Gee, I hope this question doesn't make me sound like a hoaxer. Pop would not be pleased. :)

hatman

September 26th, 2009, 5:09 pm

Okay I hope this all helps.

LROC Cameras
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/EPO/LROC/lroc.php?pg=specifications

First Look: Apollo 12 landing site and Surveyor 3
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/2009/09/03.html

LROC’s First Look at the Apollo 11, 14, 15, 16, & 17 Landing Sites
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/76-LROCs-First-Look-at-the-Apollo-Landing-Sites.html

LROC Instruments
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/spacecraft/index.html

Excellent. Helps immensely.
Bless you sir! :flag:

hatman

September 26th, 2009, 5:24 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/M106797147_LR_.png

Zoomable Full Size Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/M106797147_LR_thumb.png)

Very cool
This reminds of this picture.
http://haysvillelibrary.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/moons-copernicus-crater-lunar-orbiter-photo2.jpg

My dad brought home a poster with this oblique picture of Copernicus Crater when it first came out in 1966. I remember being mesmorized by it. Amazingly good quality, eh?
I hadn't seen it in 40 years; your post prompted me to find it. Thanks!

LouC

September 26th, 2009, 10:41 pm

Sorry Lou, I wasn't very clear with my second question. I was asking about the original Apollo still pictures taking by the astronauts. Wouldn't the sunlight be more 'blinding' given that there's no atmosphere to filter it?
Gee, I hope this question doesn't make me sound like a hoaxer. Pop would not be pleased. :)

The sunlight would be more intense without an atmosphere on the Moon and all the water vapor, dust, smoke, pollens, molds etc. that float in our ocean of air here on earth.

http://history.nasa.gov/apollo_photo.html

Here are some additional interesting links.

http://www.apolloarchive.com/apollo_gallery.html

http://sterileeye.com/2009/07/23/the-apollo-11-hasselblad-cameras/

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_15/photography/

http://apollo.sese.asu.edu/

http://history.nasa.gov/afj/

hatman

September 27th, 2009, 12:58 am

The sunlight would be more intense without an atmosphere on the Moon and all the water vapor, dust, smoke, pollens, molds etc. that float in our ocean of air here on earth.

http://history.nasa.gov/apollo_photo.html

Here are some additional interesting links.

http://www.apolloarchive.com/apollo_gallery.html

http://sterileeye.com/2009/07/23/the-apollo-11-hasselblad-cameras/

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_15/photography/

http://apollo.sese.asu.edu/

http://history.nasa.gov/afj/

Great stuff, Lou!
I especially liked the apolloarchive pics. I've been spending the last 2 hours looking at them.

Your links have explained my question re: photos.

LouC

September 27th, 2009, 11:08 am

Great stuff, Lou!
I especially liked the apolloarchive pics. I've been spending the last 2 hours looking at them.

Your links have explained my question re: photos.

Glad I was able to help get your query answered.

I know what you mean (2 hours looking at them).

For people who enjoy this subject it is easy to do that.

I had never run across a couple of those sites I linked before now.

LouC

September 28th, 2009, 5:23 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/M104419352R_.png
The linear rille Rima Ariadaeus is found on the nearside of the Moon, nestled between Mare Tranquillitatis and Mare Vaporum. Most linear rilles are believed to represent tectonic faulting and can be used to determine stratigraphic relationships on a surface. Image width is 1.2 km

Zoomable Image
Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/M102078761R_thumb.png)

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/FI_2.png
Small area of uncalibrated LROC WAC frame M104426379C, showing the 689 nm wavelength. This image provides context for today's featured image, the location of which is shown by the star.

Zoomable Image
Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/FI_2.png)

More data Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/115-Rima-Ariadaeus--A-Linear-Rille.html)

LouC

September 29th, 2009, 6:15 pm

#3

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/AS11-40-59118.jpg

Apollo 11 PSE in the foreground with LRRR just behind it, and the TV camera on the horizon beyond the American flag [NASA Photo AS11-40-5948].

Full Size Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/AS11-40-59118.jpg)

Explore the full resolution LROC NAC Strip Image
Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M104362199R) and find the landing site on your own.

Apollo 11: LROC Second Look Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/101-Apollo-11-Second-look.html)

Tuesday, September 29. 2009

LouC

September 29th, 2009, 6:17 pm

#2

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/2xenlarge.png

NAC image blown up two times showing Tranquility Base [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

The astronaut path to the TV camera is visible, and you may even be able to see the camera stand (arrow). You can identify two parts of the Early Apollo Science Experiments Package (EASEP) - the Lunar Ranging Retro Reflector (LRRR) and the Passive Seismic Experiment (PSE). Neil Armstrong's tracks to Little West crater (33 m diameter) are also discernable (unlabeled arrow). His quick jaunt provided scientists with their first view into a lunar crater.

Full Size Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/2xenlarge.png)

Tuesday, September 29. 2009

LouC

September 29th, 2009, 6:17 pm

#1

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/nacr00004629_.png

A month after LROC's first image of the Apollo 11 landing site was acquired, LRO passed over again providing LROC a new view of the historic site. This time the Sun was 28 degrees higher in the sky, making for smaller shadows and bringing out subtle brightness differences on the surface. The look and feel of the site has changed dramatically.

Full Size Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/nacr00004629_thumb.png)

Tuesday, September 29. 2009

hatman

September 29th, 2009, 9:10 pm

Tuesday, September 29. 2009

:clap: Love that. Thank you. Sending new link to Pop.

I'm totally convinced the big crater to the west is the football field sized crater Armstrong mentioned he had to manually avoid.

LouC

September 29th, 2009, 10:09 pm

:clap: Love that. Thank you. Sending new link to Pop.

I'm totally convinced the big crater to the west is the football field sized crater Armstrong mentioned he had to manually avoid.

Did you go to the NAC Strip image link?

I tried to spot the landing site on it but my eyes just couldn't pick it out... :cry:

I will have to try again when they are rested.

Glad you are enjoying the posts.

hatman

September 29th, 2009, 11:07 pm

Did you go to the NAC Strip image link?

I tried to spot the landing site on it but my eyes just couldn't pick it out... :cry:

I will have to try again when they are rested.

Glad you are enjoying the posts.

Are you talking about the picture in your post #220?
If so, it's fuzzy, but I can see it.
Or are you talking about a different pic/link?

And yes, these posts are truly important to me.
It brings back a seminal time in my life.

LouC

September 30th, 2009, 2:16 am

Are you talking about the picture in your post #220?
If so, it's fuzzy, but I can see it.
Or are you talking about a different pic/link?

And yes, these posts are truly important to me.
It brings back a seminal time in my life.

Cool I get to share another neat thing with you.

The NAC strip images are where all of these blocked single images are coming from.

As the orbiter is moving it is shooting the Moon (sorry) in continuous strips of digital data that has to be transmitted to earth then digitally restored and rendered into the NAC strip images.

Then they have been blocking out individual blocks from these strips but at the LROC site you can link to the strips.

The one I was mentioning is the LROC NAC Strip Image
Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M104362199R) and find the landing site on your own.

Once the page loads you will see controls at the bottom of the screen to zoom and pan the strip image.

I have been posting some of these all along.

Maybe the "Click Link" tags aren't catching peoples eyes?

LouC

October 1st, 2009, 10:44 pm

Old Craft

Surveyor 1 collected over 11,000 images, most during the first lunar day between landing and July 7, 1966. The spacecraft continued to operate until January 7, 1967. The Surveyor images demonstrated that the lunar surface was strong enough to support a landed vehicle or a human. The detailed images also indicated that the surface was composed of a granular material interpreted to be produced by the impact of various size meteors over billions of years.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/surveyor1_3.jpg
Image of Surveyor 1's shadow against the lunar surface, collected by the on-board imaging system [NASA].

Explore the full-resolution NAC strip image Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M102443995L) of the Surveyor 1 site.

Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/117-Surveyor-1--America%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%84%A2s-first-soft-lunar-landing.html)

LouC

October 1st, 2009, 10:46 pm

New Images

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/surveyor1_2.png
Enlarged view showing Surveyor 1 sitting in the Ocean of Storms, waiting for a return visit by human explorers [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

The scene shows the spacecraft (annotated with an arrow) just south of a subdued 40 m diameter crater and about 110 m northwest of a 190 m diameter crater lined with boulders. The landing site is in the northeast corner of the Flamsteed Ring, a 100 km diameter impact crater almost completely buried by mare lavas such that all that remains exposed is the upper part of the original crater rim.

LouC

October 1st, 2009, 10:48 pm

More

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/surveyor1_1.png
Surveyor 1 spacecraft sitting silently on Oceanus Procellarum, the first US spacecraft to land on another planet (June 2, 1966). The image was taken in the lunar afternoon such that the sun in low on the western horizon and the 3.3 meter tall spacecraft casts a long shadow (almost 15 m long) to the east [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Surveyor 1 was the first in a series of seven US missions to the Moon that preceded Apollo; five of the seven missions were successful. Surveyor 1 was launched on May 30, 1966 and landed on June 2, 1966. The mission's objectives were to soft land on the Moon and to collect information on the lunar regolith.

This first Surveyor spacecraft carried only a television camera system (later missions carried additional instruments). The spacecraft landed on a relatively smooth mare surface in Oceanus Procellarum (the Ocean of Storms). The Surveyor 1 landing site is also one of the areas identified by Project Constellation as a high-priority target for future human lunar exploration.

hatman

October 2nd, 2009, 3:27 am

Cool I get to share another neat thing with you.

The NAC strip images are where all of these blocked single images are coming from.

As the orbiter is moving it is shooting the Moon (sorry) in continuous strips of digital data that has to be transmitted to earth then digitally restored and rendered into the NAC strip images.

Then they have been blocking out individual blocks from these strips but at the LROC site you can link to the strips.

The one I was mentioning is the LROC NAC Strip Image
Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M104362199R) and find the landing site on your own.

Once the page loads you will see controls at the bottom of the screen to zoom and pan the strip image.

I have been posting some of these all along.

Maybe the "Click Link" tags aren't catching peoples eyes?

Yeah, I've been using the links. Just wasn't sure what you meant.
I used the link above but haven't found the landing site yet.
But I had a great time just 'orbiting' and checking stuff out.
Magnificent Desolation.

Samm

October 2nd, 2009, 5:45 pm

Maybe the "Click Link" tags aren't catching peoples eyes?

What links? :eh:

:razz:

LouC

October 2nd, 2009, 6:44 pm

What links? :eh:

:razz:

:naughty: Samm....

LouC

October 5th, 2009, 6:44 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/10022009a.png

Subset of uncalibrated LROC NAC frame M104447576R showing Vallis Lorca, one of four lobes that make up Aratus CA in western Mare Serenitatis near the Montes Apennius. The Sun is shining from the lower left, image width is 1924 meters [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Full Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/M104447576R_thumb.png)

Aratus CA is an unusual depression and possible volcanic vent, previously featured in the Apollo Image of the Week Click LINK (http://apollo.sese.asu.edu/LIW/20080610.html). This depression is about 9.5 km long and 3 km wide, located at the termination of a north-south trending wrinkle ridge known as Dorsum Owen. After the mare lavas erupted and cooled, contractional tectonic forces generated wrinkle ridge features. Most lunar scientists think this unique depression is a product of both volcanism and tectonic collapse. Each lobe is distinct, for example, Vallis Lorca is a collapse pit crater, while the lobe to the east named Rima Sung-Mei is a small rille. Stratigraphy and cross-cutting relationships indicate multiple tectonic and volcanic events. The featured image of the Vallis Lorca lobe shows “rings” around the rim, indicative of collapse. Browse the whole NAC image Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M104447576R)!

Set 1

LouC

October 5th, 2009, 6:44 pm

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/10022009b.png
The 1.5 m/pixel resolution of this NAC image allows for a detailed view of layered outcrops of mare basalt in the southern wall of Aratus CA. Image width is 1480 meters [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Full Image Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/M104447576R_thumb2.png)

Set 2

LouC

October 6th, 2009, 4:40 pm

The LCROSS is nearing the end of its life but by no means the end of it's legacy.

Soon the double impacts will happen, keeping fingers crossed, they will both be smashing successes (sorry). :)

LCROSS Mission Overview
Click LINK (http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov/mission.htm)

The above is for people to refresh their memory regarding what LCROSS is all about.

Find out where and how to observe the LCROSS impacts on Oct. 9, 2009: Click LINK (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/impact/index.html)

See if there is something of interest to you.

MrShotShot

October 6th, 2009, 5:13 pm

Thanks for staying on top of all of this Lou.

It gives me goosebumps to actually see these objects in these photographs.

LouC

October 6th, 2009, 5:27 pm

Thanks for staying on top of all of this Lou.

It gives me goosebumps to actually see these objects in these photographs.

You are welcome.

Actually it is fellow members like you that also enjoy this thread that keeps me keeping up with it.

I am hoping the LCROSS impacts on Friday work well.

MrShotShot

October 6th, 2009, 6:05 pm

You are welcome.

Actually it is fellow members like you that also enjoy this thread that keeps me keeping up with it.

I am hoping the LCROSS impacts on Friday work well.

So I'm assuming that the moon hoax nuts are just hiding these days?

LouC

October 6th, 2009, 6:21 pm

So I'm assuming that the moon hoax nuts are just hiding these days?

Our primary HB poster took a leave from the boards and it seems the others left here are not interested in picking up the slack.

I miss them. :cry:

Samm

October 6th, 2009, 6:42 pm

Our primary HB poster took a leave from the boards and it seems the others left here are not interested in picking up the slack.

I miss them. :cry:

If it would make you happy I could pretend to switch side. :cool:

LouC

October 6th, 2009, 7:51 pm

If it would make you happy I could pretend to switch side. :cool:

:think:

That's okay Samm your present level of kibitzing is adequate to keep me tempered if not keenly so. ;)

Samm

October 6th, 2009, 9:21 pm

:think:

That's okay Samm your present level of kibitzing is adequate to keep me tempered if not keenly so. ;)

Are you sure? Ok, but if you change your mind I can easily ramp it up a bit. :D

LouC

October 6th, 2009, 9:39 pm

Are you sure? Ok, but if you change your mind I can easily ramp it up a bit. :D

Tis okay, but if I suddenly feel an overwhelming desire to gnash my teeth, rend my garments, tear my hair out follicles and all I will be more than happy to have you ramp it up....a bit.

hatman

October 6th, 2009, 9:52 pm

Our primary HB poster took a leave from the boards and it seems the others left here are not interested in picking up the slack.

I miss them. :cry:

I miss them, too.
Would it be kosher for you to provide the link you mentioned previously about someone "de-bunking" the LROC pics?
I understand if you wouldn't want to post that.
Looking at HB'ers reminds me of a comic's line about pulling on a hangnail - "It kinda hurts, but kinda feels good, too." :)

p.s. I second the kudos for you. Great fun looking at those pics. It's been good for Dad, too. At 83, he's wearing out, and it's good for him to remember the historic times he was part of.

darknessesedge

October 6th, 2009, 9:55 pm

LouC

October 6th, 2009, 10:08 pm

I miss them, too.
Would it be kosher for you to provide the link you mentioned previously about someone "de-bunking" the LROC pics?
I understand if you wouldn't want to post that.
Looking at HB'ers reminds me of a comic's line about pulling on a hangnail - "It kinda hurts, but kinda feels good, too." :)

p.s. I second the kudos for you. Great fun looking at those pics. It's been good for Dad, too. At 83, he's wearing out, and it's good for him to remember the historic times he was part of.

It was a YouTube of supposed debunking of the LCROSS and LRO, I didn't save the link but I can look for it if you want.

Looking at HB'ers reminds me of a comic's line about pulling on a hangnail - "It kinda hurts, but kinda feels good, too. :)) :)) :)) I love that analogy!

Tell Dad I am so thankful for him and his fellows for all that they did back then, that I was able to be witness to, this history making, and that it is my pleasure to bring it back for others to see and remember or for some to learn of for the first time.

Samm

October 6th, 2009, 10:14 pm

Tis okay, but if I suddenly feel an overwhelming desire to gnash my teeth, rend my garments, tear my hair out follicles and all I will be more than happy to have you ramp it up....a bit.

Well, maybe I could get Crusader Frank to come back just for you. ;)

LouC

October 6th, 2009, 10:17 pm

we are google mapping the moon?

No we are not google mapping the moon.

LouC

October 6th, 2009, 10:20 pm

Well, maybe I could get Crusader Frank to come back just for you. ;)

Could you?

And bring in the Segue Queen too?

Seriously I do miss Frank.

Hate he took the situation so hard he felt the need to take leave.

LouC

October 8th, 2009, 12:57 pm

LouC

October 11th, 2009, 11:38 am

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/bigoldfartdude/nacl00002800.png
The edge of Mare Moscoviense. Image width is 1.4 km [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Where Moscoviense meets the Highlands Tuesday, October 6. 2009
Full Image
Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/nacl00002800_thumb.png)

Mare Moscoviense is a one of the many places on the lunar surface that lunar scientists want to visit. The lunar farside is quite different from the nearside; one of the bigger reasons why is that the mare basalt deposits so common on the nearside are few and far between on the farside. Since basalts form by partial melting of the lunar mantle, sampling Moscoviense basalts would provide lunar scientists with vital insights into how the lunar mantle on the farside differs from the nearside mantle, which in turn would help us to learn why mare basalts are so much rarer on the farside.

Referring to it as the Farside and not the "Darkside", Interesting.

Where Moscoviense meets the Highlands Tuesday, October 6. 2009
Full Image With Annotation
Click LINK (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/nacl00002800_thumb_anno.png)

For these reasons, Moscoviense is one of the sites identified by NASA's Project Constellation as an important site Click LINK (http://ser.sese.asu.edu/LSM/targeting.php) for possible future human lunar exploration. This LROC NAC image shows the view of a region several kilometers south of the proposed Exploration site, including a boundary between the mare basalts in southern Mare Moscoviense and the surrounding farside highlands. The white arrows show the location of a "bathtub ring" indicating the level that the original lavas reached as the Moscoviense basin filled with lava. As time progressed, the erupted lavas gradually drained out of the basin, eventually solidifying at the current lower level. Human exploration of this area in particular would provide contextualized samples of the Moscoviense basalts and samples of the surrounding highlands materials, providing key and otherwise unavailable insights into the geologic history of this region.

Full NAC Strip Image
Click LINK (http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/nacl00002800)

Update LRO October 11th of Images from October 6th.