Planets and Moons  ID: 11806

New Craters on the Moon

Planetary scientists believe that small impacts regularly bombard the Moon, but until recently, they’ve had no way to distinguish new craters from the already pockmarked lunar surface. In 2009, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) arrived at the Moon and began taking high-resolution photographs. By comparing pictures taken early in the mission with more recent images, the LRO camera team has discovered more than two-dozen new impact craters – including an 18-meter-wide crater caused by a bright flash on March 17, 2013.
Learn more about this finding.
 

Related


For More Information

http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/posts/770

NASA.gov


Credits

Mark Robinson (Arizona State University):
Lead Planetary Scientist

John Keller (NASA/GSFC):
Project Scientist

Noah Petro (NASA/GSFC):
Deputy Project Scientist

Dan Gallagher (USRA):
Producer
Editor
Graphics

Ernie Wright (USRA):
Visualizer

Rob Andreoli (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.):
Videographer

Chris Meaney (HTSI):
Animator

Chris Smith (Self):
Animator

John Caldwell (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.):
Production Assistant

Ryan Fitzgibbons (USRA):
Technical Support

Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET Systems, Inc.):
Technical Support

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center