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06 February 2004

The Moon in the News

by Forrest M. Mims III

Mars dominates space news these days and rightly so. Even those who criticize space exploration cannot but be in awe of the remarkable images being sent obediently to Earth by two robotic Rovers, each nearly the size of a golf cart.

Only a camera is required to capture nice images of the Moon. This digital photograph shows the Moon and Mars (upper right) at 1901:58 Central Standard Time (CST) over Geronimo Creek, Texas, on September 9, 2003. Sunset was at 1844 CST. Forrest M. Mims III. Click image to enlarge.

While Mars is big news today, the Moon is receiving significant interest as well, for there is serious talk about returning astronauts to the Moon.

Former NASA scientist and Sky, and Telescope columnist Charles Wood and amateur astronomer and astrophotographer Anthony Ayiomamitis, have produced a remarkable web site that features a different image of the Moon every day Lunar Photo of the Day - LPOD.

As they note on their web site, "... many professional and amateur astronomers regard the Moon only as an unshielded light that washes out the faint diffuse glow from nebulae and galaxies. Well, tough - the Moon exists."

This bold perspective should be reason alone to visit their site to see the "Lunar Photo of the Day" and browse through the archives to see past photos.