[rabenson]

NASA has released never-before-seen images of three lunar landing sites. These high-resolution stills feature stunningly detailed scenes of abandoned experiment sites and trails made by astronauts' boots and lunar rovers.

At a press conference on September 6, NASA Planetary Science Division Director Jim Green debuted the photos of the Apollo 12, 14 and 17 sites, captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).

"We can retrace the astronauts' steps with greater clarity to see where they took lunar samples," said Noah Petro, a lunar geologist for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, who spoke at the images' presentation, according to NASA's press release.

Arizona State University researcher Mark Robinson, who worked as the principle investigator for the LRO study, explained how these new images differ from previously collected orbital snapshots of the moon's surface. From NASA's press release:
The new low-altitude Narrow Angle Camera images sharpen our view of the moon's surface [...] A great example is the sharpness of the rover tracks at the Apollo 17 site. In previous images the rover tracks were visible, but now they are sharp parallel lines on the surface.
These lunar images also give the viewer a sense of the debris left on the surface of the moon at a time when the amount of space debris orbiting earth has scientists worried. "We've lost control of the environment," retired NASA senior scientist Donald Kessler said in a recent report about space trash, according to the AP. Kessler also suggested that it may become necessary to clean up some of our orbital junk.

NASA is preparing to launch twin probes on a mission to study the moon's gravity. The data collected will give scientists a better understanding of the matter making up the moon--all the way to its core.

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news...main=cosmiclog
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_950663.html

[rottenflesh]

Don't tell the Lunar Truthers. Facts tend to upset their worldview.

[FuckYourAccount]

Nice post. I love space photo's and vids!

[Faline]

[Flaka]

[kellyhound]

[BigFoot]

How many replies do we need until someone pops in and yells Conspiracy? DAMN GOOD PHOTOSHOP WORK THERE. O.o

[RedneckR0nin]

The new high definition images of the Apollo landing sites have been released to the public!

Before this was the imaging that was released of the Apollo 11 site was speculative at best for some. Now with improved image and definition the difference is very noticeable! The top image is the new ones and the bottom is the same frame just low definition!

Here is a video that goes along with it
<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_WZ26s4ik2w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Of course this could all be photoshopped right?.....well to some I am sure it could be! Really interesting stuff though and beautiful shots of the landing sites!

[RedneckR0nin]

Originally Posted by rottenflesh ↗

Don't tell the Lunar Truthers. Facts tend to upset their worldview.

I am going to have to remember that one!