Featured Images

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

The Floor of Saha E

Diverse textures on the floor of Saha E on the lunar farside. Image width is 1.08 km [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 27 Oct 2009

Epigenes A

A plethora of boulders surrounds braided flows of impact melt along the inside wall of crater Epigenes A. As the melt moves toward the crater floor (direction indicated by white arrow), the flow buries and moves boulders. Epigenes A is...

Published on 23 Oct 2009

Bright Boulder Trail

High-albedo marks on the lunar surface left by a boulder bouncing down the northeast wall of farside highlands crater Moore F. Image width is 610 meters [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 21 Oct 2009

Illumination comparison of a mare crater

Same crater from two LROC NAC frames under very different lighting. On the left the Sun was midway to the horizon and on the right the Sun was high, approaching noon. Under lower Sun, surface roughness is quite evident; under higher sun...

Published on 20 Oct 2009

Small crater on the wall of Metius B

Fresh crater on the southwest rim of Metius B crater. LROC NAC image width is 740 meters [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 19 Oct 2009

Fresh Rim of Slipher S

The fresh, well-preserved rim of Slipher S. Uncalibrated LROC NAC data; image width is 600 meters [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 16 Oct 2009

Bouncing, Bounding Boulders!

Many boulder trails are found on the lunar crater walls and basin massifs. Some of the trails are smooth and nearly straight while others are curvy or gouge into the surface. In many cases by following a boulder's trail you are led back...

Published on 15 Oct 2009

Asymmetric Ejecta

Distinctive asymmetrical ejecta surrounding a 140 meter diameter crater in the lunar highlands. Crater is located on the northeastern rim of the eroded (pre-Nectarian) crater Hommel at -52.9° N and 34.6° E. Image width is 600 meters and...

Published on 13 Oct 2009

Ejecta sweeps the surface

Ejecta of a fresh crater streams across the the lunar highlands south of Mare Tranquillitatis. Image width is 520 m [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 11 Oct 2009

Apollo 14 S-IVB Impact Crater

Crater (center of image) formed by impact of the Apollo 14 Saturn IVB booster. The booster was intentionally impacted into the lunar surface on February 4, 1971 to serve as an energy source to probe the interior structure of the Moon...

Published on 08 Oct 2009

A Very Sinuous Rille

Two oxbow bends along the length of a sinuous rille located on a mare-filled crater floor. The tight twists and turns of the rille suggest that a very turbulent lava flow formed this rille. Subarea of uncalibrated LROC NAC frame...

Published on 07 Oct 2009

Where Moscoviense meets the Highlands

The edge of Mare Moscoviense. Image width is 1.4 km [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 06 Oct 2009

Aratus CA

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...

Published on 02 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

Apollo 11: Second look

LROC's second look at the Apollo 11 Landing Site [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 29 Sep 2009

Rima Ariadaeus - A Linear Rille

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...

Published on 28 Sep 2009

Commissioning Sequences Pave the Way

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...

Published on 21 Sep 2009

Milichius A

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

Published on 18 Sep 2009

Lunar South Pole - Out of the Shadows

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...

Published on 17 Sep 2009