Tuesday, September 29. 2009
29Sep |
Apollo 11: Second look |
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LROC's second look at the Apollo 11 Landing Site [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].
A month after LROC's first image of the Apollo 11 landing site was acquired, LRO passed over again providing LROC a new view of the historic site. This time the Sun was 28 degrees higher in the sky, making for smaller shadows and bringing out subtle brightness differences on the surface. The look and feel of the site has changed dramatically.
NAC image blown up two times showing Tranquility Base [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].
The astronaut path to the TV camera is visible, and you may even be able to see the camera stand (arrow). You can identify two parts of the Early Apollo Science Experiments Package (EASEP) - the Lunar Ranging Retro Reflector (LRRR) and the Passive Seismic Experiment (PSE). Neil Armstrong's tracks to Little West crater (33 m diameter) are also discernable (unlabeled arrow). His quick jaunt provided scientists with their first view into a lunar crater.
Apollo 11 PSE in the foreground with LRRR just behind it, and the TV camera on the horizon beyond the American flag [NASA Photo AS11-40-5948].
Explore the full resolution LROC NAC image and find the landing site on your own.
