google moon updated

[watermelony2k]

with some snazzy new additions!
http://www.google.com/moon/

 

[Johnny Rico]

That's pretty cool.

 

[Meredith]

Why can't they show the Lem on the surface of the moon from that view?

 

[Canadave]

^ Well, as they mention if you click on one of the ? symbols near the Apollo XI landing spot, most of the high-res imagery we have of the Moon right now is from the Lunar Orbiter missions of the mid-60s, so I wouldn't be surprised if they reason they don't show the LEM on the surface is the fact that that imagery simply doesn't exist yet.

 

[Johnny Rico]

OK, well I think what NASA/JPL needs to do is to send up a hi-res photo satellite to orbit the moon and get extremely hi-res imagery of the entire body. Shouldn't be too hard...as the whole thing is rock, and there's no clouds to get in the way.

 

[Canadave]

I agree, and I'm amazed it hasn't been done yet. Compared to a Martian rover mission, it should be a relatively simple task, and I'm sure there are any number of existing Earth science satellite designs that could be modified for a high detail lunar recon mission.