Featured Images

Crash or Coincidence?

An odd-looking impact feature raises an intriguing, Apollo-era trivia question (3.02°N, 119.15°E). NAC image number M141485413; incidence angle 12°; Sun is from the east; north is up; image is ~600 meters across [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State...

Published on 20 Jul 2011

Approaching Aitken Crater - Vertregt J

As LRO slewed to obliquely view Aitken crater (17 January Featured Image), the northern edge of Vertregt J was serendipitously captured by the NAC. North to the left, image is about 6 km wide [NASA/GSFC/ASU].

Published on 19 Jan 2011

Slipher Crater: Fractured Moon in 3-D

Over time, the surface of the Moon fractures and buckles as it cools and shrinks, resulting in spectacular landforms. Stereo images provided by the LROC NAC allow a detailed look at these amazing features; view is to the east,...

Published on 12 Oct 2010

Apollo 16, Footsteps Under High Sun

High-sun image of the Apollo 16 landing site showing the lunar module descent stage, various pieces of equipment, and disturbed lunar soil (seen as darker lines and areas) which marks where John Young and Charles Duke traversed in the...

Published on 08 Jul 2010

Luna 16

Soviet Luna 16 descent stage -- the first successful robotic lunar sample return spacecraft (NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University).

Published on 25 Mar 2010

Surveyor 6 on the plains of Sinus Medii

Surveyor 6 casting 18-meter long shadow with Sun just 8° above the horizon, LROC NAC image M117501284L [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 21 Mar 2010

Surveyor 5: A hole-in-one

Surveyor 5 sitting in a 10 meter diameter crater, LROC NAC image M106726943LE, width ~960 meters [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 21 Mar 2010

Luna 21 Lander

Luna 21 lander delivered the Lunokhod 2 rover to the floor of Le Monnier crater in January 1973, LROC NAC Image M122007650LE [NASA/GSFC/ Arizona State University].

Published on 19 Mar 2010

Soviet Union Lunar Rovers

Soviet robotic lander Luna 17 still sitting on Mare Imbrium where it delivered the Lunokhod 1 Rover in November 1970, LROC NAC Image M114185541RE [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 17 Mar 2010

Soviet Union Lunar Sample Return Missions

On February 21, 1972, Luna 20 soft landed in the rugged highlands between Mare Fecunditatis and Mare Crisium. The next day a sample return capsule blasted off carrying 55 grams of lunar soil. The Luna 20 descent stage still sits...

Published on 15 Mar 2010

Crisium's Constellation Region of Interest

Boulders on a wrinkle ridge in Mare Crisium may help us understand the geology of this Constellation region of interest. The scene is 460 meters across; image number M119469420LE [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 11 Mar 2010

Exploring the Apollo 17 Site

The Apollo 17 Lunar Module Challenger descent stage comes into focus from the new lower 50-km mapping orbit, image width is 102 meters [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 28 Oct 2009

Surveyor 1 - America’s first soft lunar landing

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...

Published on 30 Sep 2009

First Look: Apollo 12 and Surveyor 3

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...

Published on 03 Sep 2009

LROC’s First Look at the Apollo Landing Sites

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...

Published on 16 Jul 2009

Almost there!

LROC temperature plot.

Published on 26 Jun 2009

LRO Launch: View from Banana Creek

LRO Launch as seen from Banana Creek (Peter Thomas, Cornell Univ)

Published on 22 Jun 2009

LRO Launches!

The Atlas V carrying the LRO and LCROSS spacecraft launches from SLC-41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on June 18th (Photo credit: Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance).

Published on 18 Jun 2009

LRO Atlas V on the Pad!

LRO Atlas V on the Pad [Photo Mark Robinson]!

Published on 17 Jun 2009

Empty Pad Beckons

LRO's empty launch pad beckons [Photo Mark Robinson].

Published on 16 Jun 2009