MyMoon Blog

Seven Great Shots From the Solar Eclipse (Australia, New Zealand, and more)

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:34:09 GMT

When it comes to a solar eclipse, a lot of the talk tends to revolve around the Sun. But, one thing to remember is that the Moon is, literally, front-and-center during these events!

So, in honor of our friend the Moon showing the Sun who’s boss, here’s seven of the best photos of the solar eclipse that Australia, New Zealand, and others got to see yesterday:

Crescent Sun

SeeAustralia on Instagram.

Frontiers

sean_davey on Instagram.

Spark of a New World

simoncrerar on Instagram.

Frame of Mind

phebeaux on Instagram.

Halo

NBCNews on Instagram.

Celestial

copulaterman on Twitter..

The Whole Nine Yards

Upswept on Twitter..

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Pretty astounding! What are some of your favorites?

Topic of the Week: Google Lunar X Prize - Rover Madness

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:04:22 GMT

The $30 million Google Lunar X Prize is a race to the Moon challenging private companies to be the first to land their own rover on the lunar surface, travel 500 meters, and send back video, audio, and data. Some teams may even send back high definition 3D video from the moon.

With the aid of private companies like SpaceX, teams will not have to worry about the logistics of launching from Earth. Their goal is to design and deliver a rover to the lunar surface. So this week I bring you rover madness from Team Astrobiotic.

Team Astrobiotic, based in Pittsburgh, is a strong contender for the prize since they have already won $3.6 million from nine lunar contracts from NASA since 2008, when it spun off from Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute. Here is the package they have to offer:

Lander: Griffin According to Team Astrobiotic, Griffin is equipped with sensors and advanced navigation software. When approaching the Moon, cameras register the spacecraft to lunar terrain for precision landing and laser sensors construct 3-D surface models of intended landing zone to detect slopes and hazards and determine a safe landing spot.

Rover 1: Red Rover The Red Rover is a pyramidal shaped rover that regulates heat during hot lunar days. The rover has solar panels on one side of the rover, and can navigates to keep its solar panels in the sun. The broad white radiator on the opposite side rejects any excess heat away from sensitive electronics. This rover can carry 30kg at a whopping 10cm per second.

Rover 2: Polaris In contrast to the Red Rover, Polaris can carry an 80kg payload at 30cm per second. This is because Polaris is designed to search and extract water on the moon. The coolest part about the Astrobotic robots is the ability to capture the “magnificent desolation” described by Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin in both high definition video and 3D video – the first lunar robots to accomplish either feat.

Average movie tickets range from $10-$15. Video games $30-$60. Would you pay movie or even video game prices to "experience" the moon in 3D?

If no one is looking, is the Moon still there?

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:46:51 GMT
In the 1980s a very famous physicist, David Mermin, came out with a paper entitled "Is the Moon still there when no body looks..." The paper appeared in the April 1985 issue of Physics Today and is an experiment and explanation of quantum mechanics and reality. Which for those of you who are not physics majors, I'm sure this paper would bore you and be very tough to understand. I am a physics major taking a class over this stuff right now, and I still don't fully understand it, but that's beside the point. Anyways, I thought it would be nice to get into a conversation with everyone regarding this. So again I ask you, if no one is looking, is the Moon still there?

Topic of the Week: Home on the Lagrange?

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:00:39 GMT
NASA rendering of a Lagrange Point base beyond the Moon, via Cosmic Log.
An idea that's been gaining steam lately is creating a settlement at a Lagrange Point---specifically, the EML-2 point beyond the Moon.

NASA's new theme song?
Alan Boyle gave a great overview of the idea recently (at his Cosmic Log). With NASA's interest in the Moon waning as private space involvement there rises, having an outpost at this Lagrange point could serve as a gateway for future missions---a stopping-off point on the way to Mars and/or asteroids---and also a good middle-ground project for NASA to take on.
Of course, a lot of people have suggested the Moon itself could fulfill this role.
What do you think? Should NASA set up a Lagrange point base, or focus on getting the Moon set up first? Or, alternatively, just go straight for Mars without messing around at the Lagrange?
For more about the challenges and opportunities of a Lagrange point, check out our webcast this Wednesday at 8p EST with Dr. Dan Lester! He'll tackle the subject---and your questions! Should be a ton of fun.

Doubt concerning the Moon Landings Continues...

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:09:04 GMT
Good morning all! I recently stumbled across a comment on one of our friend's Facebook pages refuting the truth of the Apollo Moon landings. As many of you have probably seen - this is an issue that MyMoon has tackled via the 'Conspiracy Showdown' poster on our homepage, where you can watch videos of scientists addressing the conspiracy claims and explaining the science of what was really going on by clicking the links on the (opened) poster page.
P.S. - if you haven't checked out the "Conspiracy Showdown," you should today!
Anyway, one of our own here at the LPI - Dr. Paul Spudis - also took a few minutes to address this issue and I would like to share his response with you below:
Dear Facebook User, The Moon landings were not faked, but very real. Let’s examine some of the problems with your assertion:
1. Thousands of people (many of whom are still alive today) worked on the Apollo missions to the Moon. Having all of them be party to a “hoax” would be nearly impossible. There are always disgruntled or dissatisfied people in any group, no matter how small, and if the lunar landings had been faked, why wouldn’t these people expose the hoax?
2. Pictures of the Apollo landing sites taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in the last few years show the descent stages of the Lunar Modules, equipment, backpacks and flags deployed on the Moon by the astronauts. The best images taken by LRO show the footprints of the astronauts, preserved on the unchanging lunar surface for over 40 years! If these sites on the Moon (over a quarter of a million miles away) are faked, how could a robot set-up all these pieces of equipment and make the foot-trails of the astronauts yet leave no traces of their own presence there?
3. We have more than 800 lbs of rocks and soil from the Moon in the laboratories of NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. These samples not only could not possibly come from Earth (being completely void of any water or evidence of terrestrial atmosphere); they show clear evidence for impact shock, solar wind implantation and irradiation by cosmic rays, processes that could only happen on an airless, rocky body like the Moon. There is too much quantity of sample from too many diverse areas to have been collected and returned by a robotic probe.
4. “If we went to the Moon so long ago, why haven’t we been back to it?” – In brief, because we have had no reason to. We went to the Moon in the 1960s not to explore it or settle there, but to beat the Russians (or the former Soviet Union) there. Once we won the race to the Moon, we did not need to continue to do so indefinitely.
5. Some common objections (and responses) to a real Moon landing include:
a. The “waving” flag on the airless lunar surface in video – the Apollo flags had a stiff wire to hold the cloth out at right angles to the pole, so that the flag would stand out. As the crew shoved the flagpole into the lunar dirt, they bumped and moved the pole, making it appear to “wave.”
b. No stars visible in the sky in pictures taken on the lunar surface – the extreme brightness of the glare from the lunar surface meant that any image that could show faint starlight would be vastly overexposed from the lunar surface. As we wanted to see the Moon, the cameras were stopped down to bring out detail in the lunar surface, not the starfield in the sky.
c. Cast shadows on the surface are not parallel – they wouldn’t be, if the surface were uneven and undulating. The myriad craters on the surface make an irregular, rolling terrain, so shadows will vary in length and direction.
d. No blast crater under the Lunar Module engine – There actually IS a “swept zone” beneath the engine bell of the six Lunar Modules that landed on the Moon. There is no crater because beneath the top few inches of loose soil, the lunar dirt is very compacted and dense and this material does not erode under the blast of a rocket engine.
e. “Ghost-like” images of astronauts walking on the Moon let you see through them during the supposed moonwalks – The slow-scan TV camera carried by the Apollo 11 mission used a video tube coated with phosphor, which would “glow” with an image after scanning by an electron beam. This led to a slight “image persistence” in which an image would not fade immediately, but do so slowly over the course of a few seconds. This led to the appearance of being able to “see through” an astronaut walking around on the lunar surface.
Finally, please check out these web sites for more information: Clavius.org LROC Apollo Landing Site Images
Hope this information helps.
Cordially,
Paul Spudis

The Moon in other cultures

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:50:04 GMT
The moon is not only a satellite of the Earth. It also has many natural significances as well as religious and cultural significances. In nature, the Moon causes the tides of the ocean. http://www.greatdreams.com/moon/moon_worship.htm
This is a link to a good page on the moon in other cultures and religions as well as the moon in mythology. The article begins with the moon in Hebrew Mythology and then moves to Daoism as well as other cultures. It is a very interesting article and gives a good explanation of how other people around the world, as well as people in history have viewed the moon. This shows that the moon is not only something that changes the tides of the Earth. It has many other meanings around the world. Please comment your thoughts below as well as let us know what the Moon means to you!

Either/Or: Bringing Life To A Planet Near You

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:15:59 GMT
Many people here on Earth are waiting for the news that NASA has discovered life on Mars or any other planet within reach. What we should anticipate is the news that humans have delivered life to a barren planet like Mars!
Science Fiction tells us that we could terraform entire planets to create a lush, balanced ecosystem similar to Earth. Common sense tells us that would require an excessive amount of resources. Science tells us we should bring a little heat and bacteria .
First Warm the Planet
Are we even capable of raising the temperature of massive planets or moons? Some scientist believe we could slightly raise the temperature on a planet like Mars using hydrogen bombs or nuclear technology. This will cause the abundant Carbon Dioxide under the surface to be released, and "self heat" the planet further. This heat would also melt polar ice caps and release water need for many potential organisms in the future. This is explained in a video by theoretical physicist Michio Kaku:

Then Bring the Bacteria
After we raise the temperature and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, photosynthetic bacteria that can survive the harsh conditions of space may be able to support planetary exploration missions that extract minerals from rocks or recycle waste. Hopefully supporting permanent Moon or Mars bases that operate self-sufficiently.
Either we succeed / or this is fiction. Do you think we can establish self sustaining bases on the Moon or Mars, or is this science fiction we will not see in our lifetime?

Topic of the Week: Land Ownership on the Moon?

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:03:35 GMT
Technically, under space law, you can’t own land on the Moon.
But that hasn’t stopped some of the efforts to change that.
A Futurama take on a space homestead. ;)
In the past, most of the efforts were just silly but more recently some folks have put forward plans that're actually serious.
Right now, space law is minimal enough that it could become an open question. It’s a new frontier that’s nearly lawless, and yet companies are getting there within three years.
What do you think? Should people be able to own land on the Moon, even just temporarily?
What, if anything, should be done about space law and governance right now?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Red Bull Stratos: High Flying Publicity Stunt OR Important Scientific Triumph?

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 06:19:18 GMT
Red Bull Stratos Jump Image
Imagine you have just enclosed your body in an advanced space flight suit, climbed into an OPEN and UNPRESSURIZED gondola, and begun the journey of a lifetime – over 128,000 feet to the edge of near space … hanging vulnerably from a giant helium-filled balloon? What is going through your mind as you climb higher and higher … knowing that at any moment one failure in your painstakingly-devised plan could spell your end – Game over? You can watch the historic ascent and fall here: Red Bull Stratos Video Clip
Would you take the leap? Tell us by voting on the MyMoon Poll this week.
These are questions that I have been pondering since Felix Baumgartner’s historic ascent and jump this past weekend. I must admit that I am in awe of the courage and – pardon the expression – cajones – displayed for all to see in this historic achievement. At the same time, I have to wonder if it was truly necessary. Was this some ill-advised marketing ploy – or an attempt at human greatness and advancement? I know that regardless of my opinion, this will go down as a historic human achievement (rightly so), and perhaps represents something too often missing nowadays: true human courage, ingenuity, and triumph!
Part of the ingenuity of the Stratos mission design (in my opinion) was the use of a High Altitude balloon (HAB). HAB's – like the one used by Red Bull Stratos - are an area of science and engineering that I have some personal experience using for educational purposes. While a science educator at a small hands-on science center, I helped to launch an educational HAB program aimed at providing high school teachers with another tool for bringing science inquiry and engineering into their classrooms. So, as I watched Felix, I couldn’t help imagining myself in his shoes … as the Einstein doll strapped to a HAB, which I had helped to launch and recover just a couple of short years ago.
HAB provides a great opportunity for scientists and engineers alike to explore the edge of near space. Even better, it is fairly inexpensive. It is certainly possible to collect volumes of extremely valuable data that may be used to study a variety of science and engineering questions - including some that may be crucial to human space exploration. However, could it provide the level of data (and potential insight) collected by Baumgartner? Perhaps not, but does the scientific payback justify the risk? I have mixed feelings on this, but have to say that I am greatly inspired by what was accomplished. I'd love to find out what YOU think…please share your thoughts in the comments below. You can learn more about a current NASA Super Pressure Balloon project here (although there are many private and amateur groups doing exciting science as well): NASA Super Pressure Balloon and NASA Balloon Program Office .
A parting thought from Forbes about how the everyday person can glean some wisdom from this event (beyond the scientific): 10 Traits You Can Apply To Your Job...

Moon Bands on the Rise, Vol. 2: Lykke Li, Black Prairie, A Rocket to the Moon

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:11:01 GMT
The Moon’s been giving a ton of musical inspiration lately (check out Volume 1), with bands devoting their names, tunes, viral videos, and more to the Moon at an increasing rate.
The cover art for Black Prairie’s “A Tear in the Eye is a Wound in the Heart”.
Here’s three hot Moon tickets that have been catching on lately:
LYKKE LI
Lykke Li lent the absorbing retro-echo of her voice to not just one, but three ‘performances from the Moon’ as a big companion piece to her 2011 album Wounded Rhymes. Here’s “I Follow Rivers”, with its awesome chorus:

The others in her Earthrise-blessed set were "Sadness is a Blessing" and "I Know Places".
BLACK PRAIRIE
With the name of their first album and the art of their second both featuring the Moon, the bluegrass of Black Prairie is perfect for a dreamer’s evening fantasizing about life on the lunar frontier:

A ROCKET TO THE MOON
Lifting off with an upbeat pop sound somewhere between Sugar Ray and Train, A Rocket to the Moon is launching a lot of people’s good days behind their lunar name:

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Have any favorite Moon tunes of your own? Share them in the comments below (or send us a tweet @mymoonlpi)!