NASA Highlights Lunar Farside Characteristics in New Mosaic
NASA has featured a high-resolution mosaic of the Moon's farside, composed of over 15,000 images acquired by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The imagery reveals a surface significantly more rugged and battered than the familiar nearside, which is characterized by smooth, dark lunar maria. Astronomers suggest that the difference in appearance is likely due to a thicker crust on the farside, which restricts the flow of molten material from the lunar interior.
Key points
- NASA released a mosaic of the lunar farside captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
- The mosaic was compiled from over 15,000 images taken between November 2009 and February 2011.
- The lunar farside lacks the smooth, dark maria found on the nearside.
- A thicker crust on the farside is the likely cause for the lack of volcanic maria.
What happened
NASA has published a detailed mosaic of the Moon's farside, showcasing the stark contrast between the lunar surface visible from Earth and the side that remains hidden. The image is a product of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's wide-angle camera, which collected data over a period spanning from November 2009 to February 2011.
Context
The Moon is tidally locked in synchronous rotation with Earth, meaning the same side always faces our planet. While the nearside is known for its smooth, dark lunar maria, the farside is notably rougher and more heavily cratered. Scientists attribute this difference to the thickness of the lunar crust; the farside's thicker crust likely prevented molten material from the interior from reaching the surface to form the smooth maria seen on the nearside.
Why it matters
Understanding the geological differences between the lunar nearside and farside provides critical insights into the Moon's formation and internal evolution.
What we know
- The Moon is tidally locked in synchronous rotation with Earth.
- The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured over 15,000 images of the lunar farside between November 2009 and February 2011.
What remains unclear
- The lunar farside surface appears different from the nearside because the farside crust is thicker, hindering molten material from forming lunar maria.
How the story developed
NASA publishes lunar farside mosaic
NASA released a mosaic of the lunar farside as part of its Astronomy Picture of the Day series.
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