19 November 2007

JAXA's HD View of and from the Moon

On 14 September 2007, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the spacecraft SELENE (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) to visit the moon. There is a great set of science instruments onboard the craft, but the one causing the loudest buzz is the High Definition Television Camera that has been taking some awesome pictures and video of the view from 100 kilometers above the surface of the moon.

This press release from 7 November explains how the camera caught a spectacular video of the pock-marked surface of the moon. In the second half of the video linked on the press release page, the SELENE gives us the eerie view as it approaches the dark side of the moon.
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/11/20071107_kaguya_e.html

This next press release from 13 November is possibly even better, as it exhibits the Earth-rise and Earth-set videos. I'll just have to leave it to you to come up with your own description of awe here.
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/11/20071113_kaguya_e.html

If this has peaked your interest, I suggest giving the mission's homepage a visit.
http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/selene/index_e.html

Listening to: The Silence of Space

No comments: