NASA’s incredible new moon map will serve as blueprint for human missions
The most comprehensive geological map of the moon ever.
NASA / GSFC / USGS
NASA is preparing for new missions to the moon, set an ambitious goal to set walking, speaking people (including) the first woman) on the lunar surface again by 2024. There are many gigantic hurdles that have to be overcome beforehand This future has been realized, but this stunning, detailed new map of the surface features of the moonThe project, created by scientists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), NASA and the Lunar Planetary Institute, is expected to play an invaluable role in achieving the agency’s goal.
Known as the “unified geological map of the moon”, the cartogram looks like a rainbow gobstopper and records decades of geological surveys of the lunar surface that date back to the Apollo era – when humans first entered our heavenly neighbor. Use of regional maps from six Apollo missions combined with new data collected by NASA and NASA Observations from Kaguya, a probe by the Japanese space agency that imaged the moon between 2007 and 2009.
The colorful geological map on a scale of 1: 5,000,000, This should be revealed during the 51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, is intended to serve as a resource for research and analysis efforts and to support future geological surveys.
“It is wonderful to see how USGS creates a resource that can help NASA plan future missions,” said Jim Reilly, USGS director. in a press release.
The pockmarked surface of the moon serves as a record of its history, and the new map distinguishes between different geological formations and periods, with the moon’s past recorded in striking colors. The card is dominated by the pink of the Imbrian era, which occurred around 3.5 billion years ago. During this time, the moon was smashed by asteroids, creating many of the impact craters that we can see on the surface today.
You can find a full version of the map here.
Look at that:
NASA and Roscosmos astronauts take off for International …
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