LRO Images Apollo 12 Landing Site
Written by Nancy Atkinson
Back in July when the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter team released stunning images from several Apollo landing sites, it was not possible at that time to image the Apollo 12 site, the westernmost landing site, due to operational constraints. But now LRO has taken a good look at Oceanus Procellarum and the wait was well worth it. Easily and clearly visible are the Lunar Module descent stage and Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP), along with astronaut tracks, and the Surveyor 3 spacecraft.
"There are only so many locations that can be imaged at one time," said Mark Robinson, principal investigator of LRO's Camera, LROC. "Not every target can be imaged every time around. I'm glad we had to wait another month, it was very exciting to see this image a month after the excitement of the first round of Apollo landing sites."
LRO is slated to orbit the moon for at least another 12 months, which means Robinson and his team have many more imaging opportunities ahead of them. In mid-September the spacecraft's orbit will be lowered, allowing LROC to acquire even higher resolution images of the Apollo and Surveyor landing sites.
For higher resolution images and more info about about the Apollo 12 site, check out the LRO website.
Filed under: Moon
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September 3rd, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Wow, those Apollo 12 astronauts sure did leave a lot of cardboard arrow cutouts behind!
Hehe
Awesome view, I love the fact we can still see the footprints of guys who hopped on the lunar surface 40 years ago. I can't think of another example where this is possible.
Cheers,
Ian
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:31 pm
@Lawrence B. Crowell:
"The problems which face human survival have a time frame of a century or so into the future. Billions of years from now are beyond consideration. Our problems stem from the fact we are some sort of terminator species which is doing an extraordinary job of tearing down the planetary biosphere.
The average mammalian species exists for a couple of millions of years. Our hominid relatives and ancestors faired no better, and in many ways worse. Neanderthals existed only 350k-years. We have only been around 100-150k-years. Species longevity is the province of the simpler life forms, particularly bacteria. Insects are by comparison very complex life forms, but simple enough to have lasted 350 million years.
Our power, if we want to call it that, is that for some time in the universe there came sufficient organizational complexity so that subunits of the universe observed and thought about itself."
A couple of billions people might die but a lot will survive.
If we won't top Neanderthals……..:D
We might evolve. Then, our successors will colonize earth-like planets thanks to us. We already figured out a lot.
I have no fuckin' idea what are you talking about in the 3rd paragraph.
Anyway, I really don't understand your pessimism. Are you old or something? How is it possible to live with so much pessimism?
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I think you've posted in the wrong thread.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 pm
HeadAroundU as Nexus says, you must be in the wrong thread.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 pm
I bet the "Apollo Hoax" fools are scratching their heads (and getting splinters) about this one!
Oh yes – You can fake anything with PhotoShop – Right? Wish somebody would 'fake' these time-wasters out of the picture.
Gimme strength!
September 5th, 2009 at 1:47 am
I feel sorry for you if you think that this is real proof we were on the Moon.
Just few pixels on the image, thats it?
HOW MANY SATELLITES HAVE BEEN ORBITING THE MOON SO FAR???
And none of them can provide decent image of the any Apollo site?!
Just think about it… if you can't then keep jumping in joy next time you see few more pixels on the image from the Moon.
I don't think this message will be approved but its worth trying.
September 5th, 2009 at 6:52 am
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT SATELLITES HAVE BEEN ORBITING THE MOON???
Potentially photoshopped images aren't proof of satellites. You are all hoaxers, aren't you.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Does anyone know approximately where this appears in the raw image? (meaning, the long vertical strip photo that accompanies the closeup)?
I'd like to see the overall landscape then zoom in to the landing site. Seems a bit odd that they provide the closeup, then such a large strip of photo and say "it's in there somewhere! honest!".
Thanks!
September 5th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
@ Dumb_bautian,
I suggest that you read this.
September 7th, 2009 at 5:14 am
@theCase:
I found it here http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M104662862R and found the Apollo 12 site quite easily by zooming in on the "Zoomify" page. The landing site is not quite halfway down the long strip. Unfortunately, the page doesn't provide coordinates.
Nancy