Category Archives: Lunar Science

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 18-21 September 2015

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International Observe The Moon Night Draws Worldwide Attention

9192015Annual Event InOMN 2015 Will Bringing Awareness / Education / Deeper Understandings Of The Moon At More Than 500 Registered Locations Across The Globe On 19 September; Activities At Many Sites Include Telescope Use, Public Talks, Planetarium Shows And Lunar Related Activities Showcasing Moon & Connections To NASA Planetary Science & Exploration; Moon Will Be At First Quarter With Shallow-Angle Sunlight Reflecting & Illuminating Lunar Surface In Extraordinary Detail Enhancing Ability To View Moon Valleys / Mountains / Craters

Credit: NASA, InOMN, SSERVI, LPI

Friday / 18 September 2015

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Total Lunar Eclipse 27 Sep To Provide Valuable Observation Opportunities

Luar Eclipse Sep 27

Chang’e-3 Lander On Moon Surface To Take Advantage Of LUT / Astronomy From The Moon During Upcoming Total Lunar Eclipse (27 Sep HST) Lasting 1 Hour 14 Mins; Will Be Full Harvest “Blood” Super Moon At Perigee (Distance 356,457km); All LRO Instruments Will Be Turned Off Except Diviner Infrared Radiometer Which Will Map Surface Temperature Changes From Elliptical Polar Orbit (20km S Pole x 165km N Pole); Two ARTEMIS Craft In 100km x 19,000km Orbits, Solar Spacecraft & Earth-Based Observatories Will Also Collect Data

Credit: NASA, LRO, GSFC, CNSA, China News, Ken Kremer, Marco Di Lorenzo

Thursday / 17 September 2015

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LRO Observes Forming Moon Surface Faults

9172015Gravitational Tidal Forces From Earth Influencing Orientation Of Young Fault Scarps Caused By Cooling & Contracting Of Moon’s Interior; LRO Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) Identifying ~3,200 Thrust Fault Scarps Sampled In Areas 40° Longitude By 20° Latitude; Arizona State University & LROC Principal Investigator, Mark Robinson States “Now That We Have NAC Images …Structural Patterns Are Starting To Come Into Focus”

Credit: NASA, Arizona State University, Smithsonian Institution

Friday / 28 August 2015

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GSLV Mk 2 Success Leading India Toward Vital Launch Independence & Advanced Moon, Space, Human Missions ISRO GSLV

India GSLV Rocket With Indigenous Cryogenic 3rd Stage Will Be Declared Fully Operational After Recent Launch Of GSAT-6 Communication To Successful Orbit According To K Sivan, Director Of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre; GSLV Mk 2, Capable Of Carrying 2,500kg To GTO, Scheduled To Launch Chandrayaan-2 In 2017 & Subsequent Moon Missions; GSLV Mk 3, Capable Of Launching 4,000kg To GTO, First Flight Expected Dec 2016 With First Human Mission In 2021

Credit: ISRO, NASA, GSFC

Wednesday / 26 August 2015

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Lunar Fire Fountains Fueled By Carbon Monoxide According To Brown Researchers

LED 082615Brown University Researchers Revisiting Glass Collected By Apollo 15 & 17 Astronauts Suggest Moon And Earth Volatile Reservoirs Share Common Origins; Carbon & Oxygen Forms Carbon Monoxide, Mixing With Basaltic Lava To Spew Quick-Cooling Droplets Of Green And Orange Glass; Recent Analysis Reveals H2O & Carbon Concentrations Decrease Near Center, Indicating Degassing; Brown’s Alberto Saal States, “Either Some Of Earth’s Volatiles…Were Included In The Accretion Of The Moon Or…Were Delivered To Both The Earth And Moon At The Same Time From A Common Source.”


Credit:  NASA, Brown University

Friday / 14 August 2015

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LEAG Extends Abstract Due Date To 14 Aug, Team Preparing For 2015 Annual Meeting

LEAG 2015Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Annual Meeting 20-22 Oct In Columbia MD; Chaired By (L-R) Clive Neil, Supported By Sam Lawrence (ASU), Jeff Plescia (JHU/APL), Steve Mackwell (LPI) & Representatives For LRO, ESA, ARTEMIS, Commercial Space, Next-Gen Lunar Scientists & Engineers; Recent Findings / Recommendations Include Resource Prospecting At Lunar Poles & Interior, Advancing Lunar CubeSats, Maintaining Moon Missions / Pace Of Discovery To Support International Partnerships, Technologies, Future Crewed Missions To Moon & Mars

Credit: NASA, LEAG, C. Neil, JPL/Caltech, ASU, LPI

Thursday / 13 August 2015

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NASA Drones For Moon Prospecting: Paul Spudis Notes Challenges & Benefits

8132015Latest Advances In Autonomous Teleoperated Arial Craft (Drones) May Revolutionize Lunar & Other Planetary Explorations In Areas Too Difficult For Human Maneuvering & At Lower Cost; Drones Could Prospect Lunar Surface For Ice & Resources Further Promoting The Ability To Access Moon / Deep Space; Paul Spudis Comments On Drone Challenges Of Different Atmospheres & Adaptions Required And Advantages Of Prolonged Flight Viewing Ability For Geologic Data Collection, Prospecting & Mapping Lunar Polar Regions, Craters, Lava Tubes

Credit: NASA, NASA Swamp Works

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 7-10 August 2015

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A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Moon Vision Aids India Space Mission Accomplishments

8082015

Human Space Missions To Moon & Mars Proposed By The Late Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam To ISRO Noted Future Economic Benefits; Kalam Moon Impact Probe As Part Of Chandrayaan-I Discovery Of Water On Moon South Pole Prompted Agencies To Further Investigations; India Second Lunar Mission Chandrayaan-II Moon Lander To Launch In 2017 By Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MkII)

Credit: ISRO, S. Mahinsha, The Hindu

Wednesday / 29 July 2015

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Further Details Of ESA Director’s Lunar Vision

7292015Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Director General Of  European Space Agency Clarifies His Vision “To Establish An Infrastructure On The Moon… To Do First-Class Fundamental Research”; International Research Station On Lunar Surface NET 2024 Should Serve As Next Foothold Of Human Expansion Into Solar System After ISS; Moon Focus Increasing ESA Collaboration With China, Russia, Japan & U.S. On Moon / Mars / Space Missions

Credit:  ESA, Foster + Partners

Tuesday / 28 July 2015

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Hawai`i MoonRIDERS Receive US$35K Grant

 7282015. PISCES Receiving Grant For MoonRIDERS (Research Investigating Dust Expulsion Removal Systems) Project To Advance Space Exploration & Cultivate 21st Century Workforce STEM Skills For Hawaii Students; Kealakehe High, ‘Iolani High, NASA & PISCES Developing Lunar Experimental Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) To Repel Particles Via Low Electric Current; Preparations In Process For Early 2017 Launch On GLXP Lander

Credit: PISCES, Kealakehe High School, ‘Iolani