Explore The Moon’s Surface In 4K

Have you ever dreamed of seeing every single crater and detail on the moon up close? Courtesy of NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and NASA science visualizer Ernie Wright, a new video, which debuted at a concert titled “NSO Pops: Space, the Next Frontier,” follows the sun through a lunar day, as the star rises and sets, illuminating the moon’s prominent features.

The video was then released on YouTube on July 20, the 49th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing. The video also honors NASA’s 60th anniversary, according to the agency.

LRO has been circling the moon since 2009 and has made a range of discoveries of Earth’s closest neighbor, diving deeper into the moon’s geology, morphology and significance. The footage it captured has also helped with future human missions to the moon, revealing new information about the moon’s evolution and structure.

Using the data and footage the LRO has collected on the lunar terrain, Wright was able to create a scenic tour of the celestial body through use of 3D visualization software and other images of the moon.

The video showcases the moon’s landmarks, including the ray system that surrounds the Copernicus Crater and the jutting peaks of the Apennine and Caucasus mountain ranges.

By: Maytinee Kramer