Featured Images

NAC Anaglyph: Orientale Rille

A sinuous rille in the Orientale basin exhibits fresh exposures where landslides have occurred along steep portions of the walls [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 18 Nov 2016

NAC Anaglyph: Tycho Melt Flow

Stunning complexity in impact melt deposits on the northern rim of Tycho crater that were once molten and flowed across the surface, but are now solidified [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 28 Oct 2016

Dynamic Moon!

A brand new crater on the Moon! This new 12 meter (39 foot) diameter impact crater formed between 25 October 2012 and 21 April 2013 and was discovered in a temporal ratio image (after/before) created from two Narrow Angle Camera (NAC)...

Published on 12 Oct 2016

NAC Anaglyph: Brisbane Impact Gouge

This segment of the Brisbane Z impact rim was scoured out, likely during the formation of the impact, leaving behind the elongate structure we see today [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 07 Oct 2016

Color of the Lassell Massif

A shock of color on the Moon! The Lassell Massif (a so-called "red spot") in Mare Nubium appears orange in the center of this WAC color composite image. The image was derived by assigning red to 689 nm, green to 415 nm, and blue to 321...

Published on 12 Sep 2016

NAC Anaglyph: Vitello Ridge

A wrinkle ridge south of Vitello crater, formed by compressional stress that caused the rock to fold and fracture [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 09 Sep 2016

NAC Anaglyph: Fractures in Gauss Crater

Fractures in Gauss crater suggest modification of this crater's morphology through subsequent geologic processes [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 02 Sep 2016

What's Next for LRO?

LRO and LROC will continue to explore the Moon during the mission's third extended mission to understand fundamental processes that shape our Solar System.

Published on 22 Aug 2016

NAC Anaglyph: Dryden Central Peak

Dryden's central peak rises up from the crater floor. Image width is approximately 4 km [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 19 Aug 2016

Lunar Exploration: Planning The Next Steps

Optimal traverse located around persistently illuminated points on the rim of Shackleton crater (SR-1, SR-2, and SR-3) and the connecting ridge between Shackleton and de Gerlache crater (CR-1, CR-2, and CR-3) as well as a permanently...

Published on 13 Jul 2016

Age of the Compton-Belkovich Volcanic Complex

A small portion of the Compton-Belkovich Volcanic Complex (61.20°; N, 100.27°; E) as you would see it from the window of your personal lunar module flying at an altitude of 52 km above the surface, looking to the west-southwest. The...

Published on 29 Jun 2016

A Landing Site for Russia's Luna-Glob

A portion of a new geologic map of the interior of Boguslawsky crater, proposed site of the next Russian mission to the lunar surface [Ivanov et al., 2015].

Published on 22 Jun 2016

Mapping Tycho Crater

A new geomorphological map of the interior of Tycho crater, produced using LROC NAC and SELENE Terrain Camera images. Read on for legend and unit descriptions [Krüger et al., 2016].

Published on 15 Jun 2016

Regolith Porosity from Orbit

Apollo 11 photograph of boot-print in the lunar regolith (cropped version of AS11-40-5878).  

Published on 08 Jun 2016

Crater Concentric Ridges

The dune-like features seen here are called concentric ridges, and these beautiful examples are found within the northeastern ejecta of the 5-km crater Piton B. Scene centered at 39.36° N, 359.97° E, LROC NAC Image M181174044LR...

Published on 02 Jun 2016

What a Blast! – Revisiting the Chang'e 3 Landing Site

View of the Chang'e-3 landing site from the LROC NAC. The region around the lander was brightened from the interaction of rocket exhaust with the regolith. Scene is approximately 240 m across, located at 44.121°N, 340.488°E. NAC image...

Published on 13 May 2016

Jackson Emerges

The western rim of Jackson crater floats out of the shadows in this oblique view of the prominent farside crater. LROC NAC image M1216470662LR, centered near 23.1°N, 196.1°E. [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University]

Published on 11 May 2016

Making an Impact

Light plains (outlined in yellow) are smooth, gently rolling deposits located in the lunar highlands. Their resemblance to mare ponds (outlined in blue) originally led to the idea that they were volcanic in origin. Image width is...

Published on 06 May 2016

Swirls Across the Moon

The swirls of Reiner Gamma, shown in enhanced color (415 nm, 321/415 nm, 321/360 nm in red, green, and blue, respectively) from the LROC Wide Angle Camera, overlaid on a monochrome mosaic. Scence is 108 km across and centered at 6.6° N,...

Published on 03 May 2016

Thick and Sticky Melt-Rock

Colorized slope map of a fresh impact crater and its ejecta. A deposit of solidified melt-rock and debris was formed at the end of the impact event on the floor of this 1.5-km diameter crater. The flat-lying floor materials (purple,...

Published on 15 Apr 2016