Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
As NASA works to send humans to the Moon once again through the Artemis Program, mapping the Moon and exploring its surface is once again of key importance! Like the Ranger and Lunar Orbiter satellites during the 1960s, today the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is mapping the Moon and taking increasingly detailed photographs.
Click through the image carousel to see images of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter from NASA.
When was the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) launched?
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter was launched June 18, 2009, and is still orbiting the Moon, transmitting images and data back to NASA scientists.
What was the LRO's mission?
The LRO's mission is to create a 3D map of the Moons surface, learn more about the Moon's environment and atmosphere, and locate potential resources and landing sites for future missions.
What have we learned from the LRO's mission?
The LRO Is conducting both an exploratory mission and a scientific mission: while it is trying to find safe landing zones, it is also taking complex measurements of the Moon's atmosphere, radiation, and temperature, and is looking for the possibility of water (or ice) on the Moon's surface. As part of this missions, the LRO has created a number of technical and scientific "firsts," including finding the coldest spots measured in the solar system, finding new impact craters, and improving the age dating of parts of the Moon's surface by counting the number of craters there (more craters means that part of the moon is older).
Bessel Crater
This picture shows different layers of the Bessel Crater wall, likely formed by individual lava flow deposits that hardened and built on top of each other over time. Can you think of a similar process on Earth?
Photo Credit: NASA
Marius Crater
This picture captures the impacts of landslides in the Marius Crater. Triggered by impacts to the Moon or movements from the Moon's core, these landslides cause lunar rocks to tumble down the crater's sides. What kind of processes do landslides take part in?
Photo credit: NASA
Moore F. Crater
This picture captures erosion on the sides of the Moore F. Crater, possibly formed by water, millions of years ago. How is erosion on the Moon similar to erosion on Earth?
Photo Credit: NASA
How did these images help us learn about the Moon?
Because these images are in such high resolution, they help us determine new patterns on the Moon. Identifying landslides, erosion, lava flow, and craters helps scientists learn more about the Moon.
What do these images tell us about the Moon's terrain?
The images from the LRO show us the varied surfaces of the Moon. Covered in craters from past asteroid impacts, the Moon has also been shaped by lava flows, landslides, and erosion. Looking at the way the surface of the Moon has been affected by craters, lava flows, landslides, and erosion can help us learn about how old the Moon is and how its surface is changing over time.