Lunar Laser Ranging RetroReflector (LRRR) array placed and photographed on Moon July 31, 1971, by Commander David "Dave" Randolph Scott (born June 6, 1932) during Apollo 15 mission
NASA's ongoing Lunar Laser Ranging experiments measure distances between Earth and Moon via retroreflectors placed on Moon during Apollo program (missions 11, 14,15).
Apollo 15 LRRR array is sited on Palus Putredinis, eastern edge of Mare Imbrium, in near side's Hadley-Apennine region.: Public Domain, via NASA @ https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/multimedia/lroimages/lroc-20100413-apollo15-LRRR.html
Observing the moon: lower of two green beams is from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's dedicated tracker; other laser originates from ground system at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Both beams are pointed at LRO orbiting Moon.
Lunar Ranging Facility, Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland: Public Domain, via NASA @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goddard_Spaceflight_Center_Laser_Ranging_Facility.jpg
Giant Impact Hypothesis, also known as Big Splash or The Theia Impact: Moon formed from debris from Mars-sized protoplanet -- named Theia for Greek Titan mother of moon goddess Selene by Alexander Halliday in 2000 -- obliquely grazing Earth 4.5 bya.
"Planetary Smash-Up"; artist's concept shows Moon-sized celestial body slamming at great speed into a body the size of Mercury.
image courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech: Public Domain, via NASA @ https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_1454.html
First image of the far side of the Moon was obtained by Soviet spacecraft Luna 3, or E-2A No.1, at 03:30 UT on October 7, 1959, at distance of 63,500 kilometers.
first of 29 photographs taken, covering 70 percent of far side: North is up; dark spot (upper right) = Mare Moscoviense; dark area (lower left) = Mare Smythii
NASA Image ID number Luna3_1; NASA Space Science Data Coordinated (NSSDC) Image Collection, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC): Public Domain, via NASA GSFC NSSDC @ https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/html/object_page/lu3_1.html
Far Unseen Side of Moon: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Wide Angle Camera (WAC) mosaic of Lunar South Pole encompasses Aitkin Basin, one of Solar System's largest known impact craters.
NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LRO_WAC_South_Pole_Mosaic.jpg
Comments
happynutritionist, Watching that first moon landing via TV is one of those happy historic events which definitely warrants a great big plus mark in the lives of lucky viewers.
But me, too, I agree that the others need to be remembered as well.
Excellent photos, with the passage of years, we forget some of the moon landings, we never forget the first, I remember where I was when watching it on TV, but the others become a blur and shouldn't be.