Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2019 July 19

                          Tranquility Base Panorama
                Image Credit: Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11, NASA

   Explanation: On July 20, 1969 the Apollo 11 lunar module Eagle safely
   touched down on the Moon. It landed near the southwestern corner of the
   Moon's Mare Tranquillitatis at a landing site dubbed Tranquility Base.
   This panoramic view of Tranquility Base was constructed from the
   historic photos taken from the lunar surface. On the far left astronaut
   Neil Armstrong casts a long shadow with Sun is at his back and the
   Eagle resting about 60 meters away ( AS11-40-5961). He stands near the
   rim of 30 meter-diameter Little West crater seen here to the right (
   AS11-40-5954). Also visible in the foreground is the top of the camera
   intended for taking stereo close-ups of the lunar surface.

                    Tomorrow's picture: lunar surface VR
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.
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