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As the moon orbits the Earth it ocsasionally passes through the Earth's shadow

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resulting in a spectacular change in the moons appearance for a short time. This event is called

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a lunar eclipse and it happens at least twice a year providing a rare show that's worth staying

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awake for. But what would a lunar eclipse look like if you were on the moon?

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From that perspective you would actually be viewing a solar eclipse with the Earth blocking the Sun for a short

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period of time. The view would be spectacular but there's more to it than that.

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Having such a large scale lights out on the moon give scientists a unique opportunity

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to study the moons surface and NASA's lunar reconnaissance orbiter is in a position

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just that. So what exactly does LRO plan to study?

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When the Sun is obscured the moon cools down but not every area cools at the same rate.

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Rough areas of the moon, with large rocks and boulders cool down more slowly than areas

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of fewer large rocks. By measuring the temperature of the moon as it cools

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scientists can identify which areas are rougher than others. Earth based telescopes

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have been doing something like this for years but there so far away that its hard to get a good view.

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LRO's Diviner instrument on the other hand can measure temperature at an extremely

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high resolution giving scientists a first ever up close measurement of this kind.

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By taking these measurements scientists can infer the size and density of moon rocks

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on a very small scale, teaching them new things about the moons surface. And

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while they might not be able to get a view of the solar eclispe from the moon they'll still get a look at the moon that's

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just as exciting.

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