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Hi! I’m Noah Petro, the Project Scientist for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter -

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a spacecraft has been orbiting the Moon for over a decade,

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paving the way for humans to return to the surface.

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As a scientist, I get excited about the amount of data

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that we’ve been able to collect on the Moon.

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We now know more about its geological history,

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its chemistry and topography, than ever before.

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But to me, the data also shows something beyond the science we've investigated:

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its beauty.

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The visulizations you're about to see not only hold important scientific value,

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but artistic value as well.

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These moonscapes have a fascinating story to tell, and I hope it’s one that you enjoy

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[Music]

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The Moon is our nearest neighbor. Our nightlight. It’s also our memory.

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While wind, water, and molten rock erase Earth’s deep history,

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the Moon remembers everything that has happened in the last four and a half billion years.

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The impact that formed the Orientale basin provides a window to understanding

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how similar large events on other planets and moons have shaped their landscapes.

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The discovery of water on the sunlit surface of Clavius crater

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not only unlocks new possibilities for future lunar exploration,

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but also our understanding of where the ingredients of life could exist in our vast universe.

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The steep trenches and cracked surface of Komarov crater on the farside

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tell a story of the ancient volcanic activity from the Moon’s interior,

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revealing the history of geological forces carving the lunar terrain through time.

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Traversing the landscape we can see a beautiful tapestry of ridges, valleys and mountains –

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best encapsulated by the view of Tycho crater.

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The summit of its central peak stands nearly 3 miles above the crater floor.

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A visual metaphor for the steep challenges but exciting rewards

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that await us on the Moon and beyond.

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And on the lunar horizon, the most consequential view of all –

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our home.

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To study the Moon is to study ourselves –

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our past, our present, and our future.

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Each new discovery bringing us from darkness into light.

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The gravitational forces between the Earth and Moon

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make our very existence possible,

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creating one of the most special relationships throughout time and space.