Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Sunrise at Tycho

NASA ^ | July 06, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Tycho crater's central peak complex casts a long, dark shadow near local sunrise in this spectacular lunarscape. The dramatic oblique view was recorded on June 10 by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Shown in amazing detail, boulder strewn slopes and jagged shadows appear in the highest resolution version at 1.5 meters per pixel. The rugged complex is about 15 kilometers wide, formed in uplift by the giant impact that created the well-known ray crater 100 million years ago. The summit of its central peak reaches 2 kilometers above the Tycho crater floor

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: NASA / GSFC / Arizona State Univ. / Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter]

[SunkenCiv]

Nice!

join or quit list APoD 'blog post new APoD topic Astronomy Picture of the Day topic & keyword Astronomy Chat, Bloggers & keyword Science Chat, Bloggers & keyword NASA's APoD archive Calendar 1995-present APoD on your desktop

[Red_Devil 232]

I see a woodpecker on the side of a tree trunk in the large shadow.

[Explorer89]

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddar/pdf/224682main_Vol4%20Iss7-web.pdf

See page 9 of the pdf. Just a reminder that late Freeper MrConfettiMan wrote the software on the reaction wheels of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and was memorialized on the case of one. When it eventually crashes into the moon, MrConfettiMan will be immortalized there.

[RoadTest]

That’s quite a picture!

[RadiationRomeo]

On top of the highest peak there is a fairly flat surface, and on this surface there is a large shiny boulder just sitting there. It made me think that no one will ever actually see this boulder in person. And its probably covered with Martian graffiti from aliens who climbed the mountain.

When I was a kid I was sure we would have been all over the moon by now. Me included.

[ixtl]

I didn’t notice it until I read your post, but it (the woodpecker) is there.

[COBOL2Java]

I see a woodpecker on the side of a tree trunk in the large shadow.

[Robe]

Whats that black rectangle thing to the right ?????

[Colonel_Flagg]

That is awesome. Inspiring to the imagination.

[bigheadfred]

trees; woodpeckers; black rectangle things...

All I see is a bunch of Bogarts.

[TheOldLady]

Rorschach! Calling Dr. Rorschach!

[TheOldLady]

As ever, many thanks for the APOD.

I’m wondering if there’s a disguised alien base in that deep shadow behind the 2-km peak.

[colorado tanker]

Thanks, that's beautiful!

Heard a rumor the Moon tastes like Stilton.

[SunkenCiv]

Shhh. That’s supposed to be classified.

[SunkenCiv]

Shut that bloody bazouki off!!!

[SunkenCiv]

Many thanks, Explorer89! And I’m d/ling that file for later.

[SunkenCiv]

Looks a little like coal (isn’t, of course). :’)

[SunkenCiv]

Me too. That day in 1969 was a pretty good day. Unforgettable.

[SunkenCiv]