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APOD: Earthset from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

mbig

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A beauty. Now my desktop on two machines.
I try and post only the stars.. so to speak.

APOD: 2016 January 4 - Earthset from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
(Clicking on the picture at Link above will download highest resolution. Much higher)

2016 January 4

Earthrise_LRO_960.jpg


Earthset from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State U./Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter​

Explanation: On the Moon, the Earth never rises -- or sets.
If you were to sit on the surface of the Moon, you would see the Earth just hang in the sky. This is because the Moon always keeps the same side toward the Earth. Curiously, the featured image does picture the Earth setting over a lunar edge. This was possible because the image was taken from a spacecraft orbiting the Moon - specifically the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).
In fact, LRO orbits the Moon so fast that, from the spacecraft, the Earth appears to set anew about every two hours. The featured image captured one such Earthset about three months ago. By contrast, from the surface of the Earth, the Moon sets about once a day -- with the primary cause being the rotation of the Earth. LRO was launched in 2009 and, while creating a detailed three dimensional map of the Moon's surface, is also surveying the Moon for water and possible good landing spots for future astronauts.
 
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Not to sound all conspiracy theorist or anything, but that moon looks like a badly done 3d model that no one bothered to texture.
 
Proud to be a Sun Devil!
 
Not to sound all conspiracy theorist or anything, but that moon looks like a badly done 3d model that no one bothered to texture.

I know, I thought it looked kinda fake as well. Notice how the Earth is cut off at the bottom, too, even though there's nothing there.
 
I know, I thought it looked kinda fake as well. Notice how the Earth is cut off at the bottom, too, even though there's nothing there.
You see all those dark areas? Those are called s h a d o w s. :roll:
 
Manny said:
I know, I thought it looked kinda fake as well. Notice how the Earth is cut off at the bottom, too, even though there's nothing there.
You see all those dark areas? Those are called s h a d o w s. :roll:
Yes, that's part of the moon that's in shadow: the furthest dark part blocking the bottom of the earth.
It's earthset, the sun is low in the sky behind the camera.
Really kind of shocking people don't get it.
I'm on a 14" portable at the moment and it's quite apparent.

Henrin said:
Not to sound all conspiracy theorist or anything, but that moon looks like a badly done 3d model that no one bothered to texture.

I might add, the picture does look enhanced.
Virtually ALL these space pictures (Hubble etc) we see are.
They are layered with color to show different wavelengths of light. If you were in space you would Not see many of the pretty rainbows of color we see in them.
Of course, in previous years/pic, APOD has even offered lessons on how to do it yourself.
And I'm sure it can be googled.

Of course, II...
All you have to do if you're really curious, is click on the LROC credit just under the picture and click on the link..
use some brains to go to the photo page
Click on that photo and it will be explained How LROC is making some of these things.

Looking Over The Limb | Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera

But hey...
I have always found that THEE most disappointing part of this mb. People just gotta put in their 2c before learning, before making themselves look silly and open to refutation, etc, etc.
That's why here are many debates/low level debates on this board. Lack of willingness/ability to investigate.
But even spoon-fed, few of the doubters will bother as they are not that curious, just wanna post something.

And you are all quite welcome for the pic! I'll be sure and share these beauties with you again.
(maybe. maybe after 2 or 3 other mbs)
 
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Yes, that's part of the moon that's in shadow: the furthest dark part blocking the bottom of the earth.
It's earthset, the sun is low in the sky behind the camera.
Really kind of shocking people don't get it.
I'm on a 14" portable at the moment and it's quite apparent.
You're on the moon?

;)

I'm into astrophotography as well.

I posted a picture here a while ago, it's somewhere amongst my 1154 posts...
 
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