APOD: 2025 July 20 Б Lunar Nearside
Explanation:
About 1,300 images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
spacecraft's wide angle camera were used to compose this
spectacular view of a familiar face -
the lunar nearside.
But why is there a lunar nearside?
The Moon rotates on its axis and
orbits the Earth
at the same rate, about once every 28 days.
Tidally locked
in this configuration, the
synchronous rotation
always keeps one side, the nearside,
facing Earth.
As a result, featured in remarkable detail in the
full resolution mosaic,
the
smooth, dark,
lunar maria (actually lava-flooded impact basins),
and rugged highlands, are well-known
to earthbound skygazers.
To find your favorite mare or large crater, just
follow this link
or slide your cursor over the picture.
The LRO images used to construct the mosaic were recorded over
a two week period in December 2010.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
