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 ...MissionsLunar Reconnaissance OrbiterLRO HomeOverviewAbout LRO MissionSpacecraft and InstrumentsImpact and BenefitsScience & DataLRO ScienceData ProductsPublicationsDocument LibraryEducation  & OutreachEducational ResourcesLunar ActivitiesLithographs and PostersNewsLRO StoriesEventsMedia ResourcesSocial MediaMultimediaLRO VisualizationsNASA Image SearchLRO Flickr GalleryLunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Moon GalleryThe Moon as ArtLunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) Moon GalleryExplore This SectionLRO HomeOverviewScience & DataEducation  & OutreachNewsMultimediaLunar Reconnaissance Orbiteractive MissionAboutMission DetailsGoalsScience and DataGalleryImages From LROAn illustration of a spacecraft above the Moon with Earth in the background.LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) was the first U.S. mission to the Moon in over 10 years. LRO created a 3D map of the Moon, as part of a program to identify future landing sites and resources – including deposits of water ice shadowed in polar craters. LRO continues to orbit the Moon.TypeOrbiterLaunchJune 18, 2009TargetEarth's MoonObjectiveExploration and ScienceUnable to render the provided sourceLRO StoriesExplore the LRO NewsroomImage Articlemin readSeeing the Solar Eclipse from 223,000 Miles AwayArticle2 min readNASA’s LRO Observes 2024 Solar Eclipse Shadow2 min readNASA’s LRO Finds Photo Op as It Zips Past SKorea’s Danuri Moon OrbiterArticle4 weeks ago2 min readNASA’s LRO Images Intuitive Machine’s Odysseus LanderArticle2 months ago5 min readNASA to Study Effects of Radio Noise on Lunar ScienceArticle3 months agoKeep ExploringDiscover More Topics From NASAJames Webb Space TelescopeThe image is divided horizontally by an undulating line between a cloudscape forming a nebula along the bottom portion and a comparatively clear upper portion. Speckled across both portions is a starfield, showing innumerable stars of many sizes. The smallest of these are small, distant, and faint points of light. The largest of these appear larger, closer, brighter, and more fully resolved with 8-point diffraction spikes. The upper portion of the image is blueish, and has wispy translucent cloud-like streaks rising from the nebula below. The orangish cloudy formation in the bottom half varies in density and ranges from translucent to opaque. The stars vary in color, the majority of which have a blue or orange hue. The cloud-like structure of the nebula contains ridges, peaks, and valleys – an appearance very similar to a mountain range. Three long diffraction spikes from the top right edge of the image suggest the presence of a large star just out of view.Perseverance RoverParker Solar ProbeJuno
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