September 16, 2013

Video: Virtual Rotating Moon

Thanks to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission’s Wide Angle Camera (WAC), a high resolution virtual Moon rotation movie has now been composed.

bigthinkeditor

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

No one gets to view the Moon rotate like this, but thanks to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission’s Wide Angle Camera (WAC), a high resolution virtual Moon rotation movie has now been composed. The time-lapse video below details a full lunar month in 24 seconds.

Watch here:

Credit: LORO, NASA

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Collage of geopolitical symbols, featuring a close-up of a man's bald head, China's flag, a globe highlighting Taiwan, and circuit patterns.

The Present

Why the USSR and China fell behind the US in the Chip Cold War

Both nations made missteps, but China still has a chance to make up lost ground.

Person examining a petri dish with tweezers, holding small colored objects, against a dark background.

Health

Are microplastics really destroying our health?

They’re in our brains, hearts, and blood — but what are they doing to us?

Collage showcasing a stratospheric balloon soaring over Earth and a close-up of fingers, with "The Nightcrawler" emblazoned at the top, capturing the spirit of a creative renaissance.

Business

How AI is ushering in a creative renaissance

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

Two colorful cells with purple nuclei, green cell edges, and radiating filament structures against a black background.

Health

When muscles work out, they help neurons to grow

The findings suggest that biochemical and physical effects of exercise could help heal nerves.

Two people viewed from behind against a blue sky, one wearing a pink top and the other an orange top, share a moment of quiet solace as the person in pink rests their head on the other's shoulder. It’s a serene scene that hints at healing and support after trauma.

Neuropsych

3 emotional intelligence tips for helping a friend in a rough patch

Listen, set boundaries, and point them where to go.

Up Next

Is the Building Industry About to Witness Its First Disruptive Innovation in More Than 100 Years?

The last disruptive innovation in the building industry happened in 1883 when Warren Johnson invented the thermostat, helping to launch the entire building control industry. This was 30 years after […]