Astronomy Picture of the Day

NASA ^ | 11/18/09 | LCROSS, NASA

[sig226]

Water Discovered in Moon Shadow
Credit: LCROSS, NASA

Explanation: Why is there water on the Moon? Last month, the LCROSS mission crashed a large impactor into a permanently shadowed crater near the Moon's South Pole. A plume of dust rose that was visible to the satellite, although hard to discern from Earth. The plume is shown above in visible light. Last week, the results of a preliminary chemical analysis gave a clear indication that the dust plume contained water. Such water is of importance not only for understanding the history of the Moon, but as a possible reservoir for future astronauts trying to live on the Moon for long periods. The source of the lunar water is now a topic of debate. Possible origins include many small meteorites, a comet, or primordial moon soil.

[sig226]

I still think the idea of building a moon base is silly.

[sig226]

[Pistolshot]

Something like “Last Stop for Fuel and Oxygen for the next 2 million miles”?

[sig226]

They could paint signs on all the satellites and space junk that you pass on the way there, like South of the Border.

[wxgesr]

What took us so long? I mean, come on! We can see it now but couldn’t 20 years ago?

Besides, I see a face lurking in the shadows. What is the term that means I see human features in everything I see?

[Billthedrill]

Not silly at all. Where there's water...there can be beer.

Think of it - even if the Earth is destroyed utterly in an enormous apocalypse, space travelers would still have a place to drink beer. Isn't that worth a few hundred billion?

[Revolting cat!]

I’d venture a guess it’s pee of Neil Armstrong and the others, but since the moon landing was fake, we’ll never know!

[Delta 21]

I see a spooky face!!

[sig226]

As a beer drinker, I have to concede this argument.

[a fool in paradise]

If you think that the astronauts urinated on the moon, you'll just have to see if the names and splatter match their signatures...

[a fool in paradise]

I still think the idea of building a moon base is silly.

Shhh. Don't tell anyone but we are gonna send all the barking moonbats there.

[OrioleFan]

Or See Rock City, or Wall Drug.

[sig226]

That was an entertaining excursion. While reading up on Wall Drug, Rock City, and South of the Border, I found the Wikipedia entry on tourist traps. I'm proud, as an American, that I have been to seven of the U.S. ones and two of the English ones. Our country is uniquely disposed towards the likes of P.T. Barnum. :D

The link to Breezewood, Pennsylvania, was especially fun because it has a link to a list of freeway gaps in the Interstate Highway system. It turns out that I've been on two of four actual interrupted freeways, four out of six at grade sections, and three out of eight drawbridges.

[OrioleFan]

I used to go through Breezewood on my way east to Baltimore and DC, but now I jump off 70 in Washington, PA go south to Morgantown, West (by God) Virginia and pick interstate 68 across Maryland. Got tired of paying tolls in PA.

Been to 5 on the US list - thanks for the link.

[Diggity]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6QNzH4x1rY

[Diggity]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6QNzH4x1rY

[Diggity]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6QNzH4x1rY

[Diggity]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6QNzH4x1rY

[Diggity]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6QNzH4x1rY

[Diggity]

Sorry for all the duplicates. Browser was hanging up.