Tag: moon

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Longest lunar eclipse this century coming up in late July – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

The longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century – lasting one hour and 43 minutes – will be visible across wide swathes of the world, including Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, South America and the Middle East. The total phase of the Earth’s natural satellite will turn a spectacular red or ruddy-brown color. From start to finish, the entire celestial event will last nearly four hours. This lunar eclipse will be particularly long because the moon will be at its apogee – the furthest point from the earth – causing the moon to move slower, so the eclipse lasts longer. … Continue reading Longest lunar eclipse this century coming up in late July – an annotated infographic

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India’s tricky mission to Moon’s south pole with the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft- an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

On the first day of next month, 1 April 2018, India’s Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft will attempt to land a briefcase-sized rover onto the Moon’s surface, 600km from the lunar south pole, while an orbiter above searches for water – vital to future manned missions. This is no joke (India has no concept of April Fools’ Day). India’s Moon ambitions are very real, completely serious and technologically advanced. Click on the graphic for an expanded view. Continue reading India’s tricky mission to Moon’s south pole with the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft- an annotated infographic

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Moon Express details plans to mine the Moon – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

Moon Express hopes to become the first private spaceflight company to send a robotic lander to the moon, scoop up some moon dust, load it into a small return vehicle and send it back to Earth. In one small step for space business, Moon Express has won US regulatory approval — under the 104-nation Outer Space Treaty — to become the first private company to fly to the Moon. At the heart of the company’s plans is a single-stage spacecraft, similar in size and shape to the R2-D2 droid from Star Wars, but a little bigger. Launched from New Zealand, … Continue reading Moon Express details plans to mine the Moon – an annotated infographic

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China to send Jade Rabbit to the moon, reveals plans for first space station – an annotated graphic

E&T magazine

Moon, your lonely days are over. It’s been 37 years since anything landed on our tidal companion’s surface, but on December 1st China will launch Chang’e-3, a six-wheeled rover which will ultimately spend three months roving around the surface of the moon, scanning the lunar surface to depths of 100m. Nicknamed Yutu, or Jade Rabbit – after the mythological pet of lunar goddess Chang’e, no less – the rover is due to land in a plain of basaltic lava at a more northerly point than previous US or USSR lunar landings, thus exploring lesser-known areas of the moon. Click on … Continue reading China to send Jade Rabbit to the moon, reveals plans for first space station – an annotated graphic

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NASA to launch twin satellites for nine-month moon study mission – an annotated graphic

E&T magazine

They’re as busy as ever over at NASA. As if the SLS wasn’t enough, it has also been announced that the US space agency plans to launch two spacecraft on a nine-month mission to map the moon’s gravity field. The aim of all this is to improve our knowledge of the moon’s interior and its evolution.  Naturally, such an expedition deserves a snappy acronym, so the two spacecraft are collectively known as the Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory – or GRAIL – satellites. God speed, heavenly bodies. Click on the graphic for an expanded view. Continue reading NASA to launch twin satellites for nine-month moon study mission – an annotated graphic