Lunar Nearside

Lunar Nearside

Image Credit:

NASA /
GSFC /
Arizona State Univ. /
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Explanation:

About 1,300 images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
spacecraft’s wide angle camera were used to compose this
spectacular view of a familiar face –
the lunar nearside.

But why is there a lunar nearside?

The Moon rotates on its axis and
orbits the Earth
at the same rate, about once every 28 days.

Tidally locked
in this configuration, the
synchronous rotation
always keeps one side, the nearside,
facing Earth.

As a result, featured in remarkable detail in the
full resolution mosaic,
the smooth, dark,
lunar maria (actually lava-flooded impact basins),
and rugged highlands, are well-known
to earthbound skygazers.

To find your favorite mare or large crater, just
follow this link
or slide your cursor over the picture.

The LRO images used to construct the mosaic were recorded over
a two week period in December 2010.