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 27

                                            Chandrayaan 2 Launch
                                   Image Credit & Copyright: Neeraj Ladia

   Explanation: On July 22nd this GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle) MkIII rocket vanished
   from sight into a cloud bank an instant after this dramatic snapshot was
taken. Launched from India's
   Satish Dhawan Space Centre it carried the Chandrayaan 2 mission
spacecraft into Earth orbit. The
   spacecraft's orbiter, lander, and rover are destined for the Moon,
though. In the coming weeks it will
   perform a series of orbit raising maneuvers, eventually transferring to
lunar orbit in early
   September. Carrying the solar-powered rover, the lander is scheduled to
separate and attempt its
   autonomous soft landing at high latitudes near the lunar south pole. It
should arrive on the lunar
   nearside near local sunrise and the start of a two Earth-week long lunar
day on September 7.

                                 Tomorrow's picture: Infrared North America
    
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                      Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
                            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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