Lee Lincoln Scarp at the Apollo 17 Landing Site
Image Credit: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
Published: September 7, 2023
A view of Lee Lincoln scarp on the Moon. The scarp is at the western end of the Taurus-Littrow valley, the landing site of Apollo 17, and was explored by the astronauts on their second moonwalk in December 1972.
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From Apollo Sites to the South Pole
Image Credit: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
Published: September 14, 2021
In this visualization, the Apollo landing sites are contrasted with the Moon’s South Pole, an area with enormous potential for future exploration. Time passes as the view zooms toward Shackleton crater at the Moon’s South Pole, revealing illumination conditions quite different from those near the lunar equator.
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Evolution of the Moon
Image Credit: NASA GSFC
Published: September 14, 2021
From year to year, the Moon doesn’t seem to change dramatically. Craters and other formations appear to be permanent now, but the Moon didn’t always look like this. Thanks to NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, we have a better look at some of the Moon’s history. Learn more in this video!
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Moon Phase and Libration 2023
Image Credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
Published: December 12, 2022
This visualization shows the Moon's phase at hourly intervals throughout 2023, as viewed from the Northern hemisphere. 2023 phase and libration as viewed from the Southern hemisphere are available here:
Phase and Libration 2023 (Southern Hemisphere View)
The Moon always keeps the same face to us, but not exactly the same face. Because of the tilt and shape of its orbit, we see the Moon from slightly different angles over the course of a month. When a month is compressed into 24 seconds, as it is in this animation, our changing view of the Moon makes it look like it's wobbling. This wobble is called libration, from libra, the scale.
Supplemental graphics show the Moon's orbit, subsolar and sub-Earth points and the Moon's distance from Earth at true scale. Craters near the terminator are labeled, as are Apollo landing sites and maria and other albedo features in sunlight.
To view the Moon's phase and libration in previous years, visit:
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