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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Lunar Farside
NASA ^ | 28 Jun, 2025 | Image Credit: NASA / GSFC / Arizona State Univ. / Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Posted on 06/28/2025 1:18:29 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: Tidally locked in synchronous rotation, the Moon always presents its familiar nearside to denizens of planet Earth. From lunar orbit, the Moon's farside can become familiar, though. In fact this sharp picture, a mosaic from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's wide angle camera, is centered on the lunar farside. Part of a global mosaic of over 15,000 images acquired between November 2009 and February 2011, the highest resolution version shows features at a scale of 100 meters per pixel. Surprisingly, the rough and battered surface of the farside looks very different from the nearside covered with smooth dark lunar maria. A likely explanation is that the farside crust is thicker, making it harder for molten material from the interior to flow to the surface and form dark, smooth maria.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 06/28/2025 1:18:29 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 06/28/2025 1:18:57 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

3 posted on 06/28/2025 1:19:59 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Man! That’s one powerful flashbulb!


4 posted on 06/28/2025 1:25:40 PM PDT by econjack
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To: MtnClimber

bttt


5 posted on 06/28/2025 1:29:20 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: MtnClimber

6 posted on 06/28/2025 1:50:51 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

7 posted on 06/28/2025 1:51:49 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: MtnClimber

With the far side always facing outer space, I’d think the Erf (and it’s atmosphere) would shield the near side.

BTW, what cartoon series is that cartoon from?

;)


8 posted on 06/28/2025 1:56:58 PM PDT by Does so ("Trump said today, "I'm with Ukraine". You?.....🇺🇦...Dem☭¢rat... ∅ one ™ ¿ ¡ ☞≣ ½¼vedv)
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To: dfwgator; MtnClimber

Thank you.

That is what I clicked for

TTIUWOC

(This thread is useless without cartoons)


9 posted on 06/28/2025 2:08:49 PM PDT by Hieronymus ( )
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To: Does so
>>>what cartoon series

Far Side by Gary Larson

10 posted on 06/28/2025 2:12:09 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: Does so; Deaf Smith

“the far side”

It says so right in the headline, dummy ! JK :) FRiends.


11 posted on 06/28/2025 3:00:42 PM PDT by takebackaustin
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To: MtnClimber

I see the Space Aliens’ base. You see it ?


12 posted on 06/28/2025 3:11:04 PM PDT by The Sentient Sheep
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To: Does so
BTW, what cartoon series is that cartoon from?

"The Far Side" by Gary Larson.

13 posted on 06/28/2025 4:20:25 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

I wonder what’s up with those bulges. Like blisters almost. They bulge outward


14 posted on 06/28/2025 9:42:05 PM PDT by This_Dude
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