Featured Images

The History of Volcanism in the Moon's Largest Basin

A view of the Moon's largest impact feature, the South Pole–Aitken basin, so named because it stretches between Aitken crater and the south pole. The orthographic projection here centered on the basin (53°S, 191°E) highlights how much...

Published on 02 Nov 2017

NAC Anaglyph: Tsiolkovskiy Crater Terrace

A portion of the terraces that make up the southeastern wall of Tsiolkovskiy Crater. The "rough and tumble-down" appearance of the wall conveys the dynamic processes involved in impact cratering events of this magnitude...

Published on 11 Aug 2017

NAC Anaglyph: Mare Shoreline in Apollo Basin

A portion of the southwestern mare "shoreline" in the Apollo basin on the farside. This contact between ancient lava plains and a remnant crater rim shows the lunar surface as a land of contrasts -- of expansive plains and jutting...

Published on 30 Jun 2017

What's Next for LRO?

LRO and LROC will continue to explore the Moon during the mission's third extended mission to understand fundamental processes that shape our Solar System.

Published on 22 Aug 2016

Making an Impact

Light plains (outlined in yellow) are smooth, gently rolling deposits located in the lunar highlands. Their resemblance to mare ponds (outlined in blue) originally led to the idea that they were volcanic in origin. Image width is...

Published on 06 May 2016

Great Wall!

Floor and eastern wall of Antoniadi crater, image width along wall is 40 km, M1146021973LR [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 26 Feb 2016

NAC Anaglyph: Orientale Basin Rille

The sinuous valleys of a rille wind their way through part of Orientale basin [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 26 Jun 2015

Sometimes You Just Need to Vent

Low reflectance material cascaded down the wall of what is likely a volcanic vent in the southwestern portion of the Orientale basin. Image width is approximately 750 m. LROC NAC image M1150135366 [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 15 Apr 2014

Rockin' Autumni

LROC NAC image (M114498609) of a blocky 600-m fresh crater within Lacus Autumni in the Orientale basin [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 26 Mar 2014

Overprinting Orientale

Fractured crater draped with ejecta from the Orientale basin, located south of Buffon crater. Portion of NAC oblique image M1128039712; looking west to east; downslope to the right [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 13 Feb 2014

Oblique Image of Concentric Crater

Oblique view of an unnamed concentric crater located in Apollo Basin. The crater has a diameter of 11.5 km, north is to the left. LROC NAC images M1097537923L & R [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 13 Aug 2013

Orientale Sculpture

An oblique view of ejecta from the Orientale basin, over 400 km south of the basin rim. Scene is approximately 5 km across, centered at 51.8°S, 264.8°E, NAC images M1127819355L & R [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 30 Jul 2013

Amazing Orientale Peaks and Valleys

Spectacular oblique view of the interior of the Orientale basin. NAC images M1124173129L & R, image centered at 24.23°S, 264.30°E, scene width is approximately 16 km and the cliff at center is 1.7 km high [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State...

Published on 16 Jul 2013

Concentricity in Apollo Basin

Portion of a concentric crater in Apollo Basin. Sun is incident from the right to the left. LROC NAC mosaic M1122245918LR, image width is 6.3 km [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 22 May 2013

Sinuous Cracks

Northwestern rim of an unnamed crater located on southwest edge of Orientale basin. Image center is 22.110°S, 258.014°E, image width is 870 m. Downslope is to the lower-right. LROC NAC M184189330L [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 31 Dec 2012

Infilled Trench

Lower portion of the eastern wall of the Orientale basin, LROC NAC M160498666R. Image center is 18.348°S, 275.769°E, image width is 500 m. Downslope is from lower right to the center [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University]. 

Published on 21 Dec 2012

Scarps in Schrödinger

A lobate scarp formed in the wall material of Schrödinger basin. LROC NAC M159099396R, image width is 1.1 km, illumination from upper right [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 27 Sep 2011

Sampling Schrödinger

Boulders rolled down an incline on a terrace near the Schrödinger basin rim. Boulders are ~20 to 30 m in size. Image width is ~1.2 km, downslope direction to upper left, LROC NAC M159017963R [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 17 Aug 2011

LROC PDS Release Number 5

LROC WAC mosaic centered on Orientale basin. From the center of the mosaic to a corner is about 2000 km [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 15 Mar 2011

Challenger Astronauts Memorialized on the Moon

Craters in the center of Apollo basin (36°S, 209°E) named after Space Shuttle Challenger astronauts, LROC WAC mosaic, ~190 km wide [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 28 Jan 2011