Japan’s Kaguya spacecraft is orbiting our moon with a high-definition camera onboard. Today we got a treat. Moving and still images of an Earthrise and Earthset taken a few days ago by the spacecraft. (Did you know that there is no rising and setting of the Earth for a stationary observer on the moon. Discuss amongst yourselves.)
The still images are amazing high-definition images, but JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) is not being forthcoming with the full high-definition video – giving us only one-quarter resolution movies. Still worth a look.
Earthrise Image
Earthset Image
Earthrise Movie
Earthset Movie
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Previous related Wohba links:
Lunar Vista
There is no rising and setting of the Earth because the same face of the Moon always faces Earth. As I recall, this is because the Moon’s period of rotation is the same as the time it takes to orbit the Earth, so it’s as if a string tied to the Earth’s center is attached to a fixed point on the Moon’s surface. No change!