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Northern area of the "Oceanus Procellarum"  (Source: JAXA)

Western side of the "Oceanus Procellarum"

West side of the "Oceanus Procellarum"
JAXA and NHK worked together to publish a video taken by SELENE

The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)'s Selenological and Engineering Explorer (SELENE) recorded a high-definition video of the moon's surface with a high-definition TV acquisition system designed by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) broadcasting station.

The recorded film includes two different portions -- the first sequence was shot over the Oceanus Procellarum, located on the western
side of the moon.  The second half of the video shows a portion north
of Oceanus Procellarum as SELENE drifted towards the North Pole.

The Oceanus Procellarum is a large, dark "ocean" plane located in the northern hemisphere on the front side of the moon if looking from Earth.  It stretches almost 2,500 kilometers on the left end of the northern hemisphere.

The captured images are the first ever lunar images taken from about 100 kilometers above the moon's surface.

According to JAXA, SELENE is in good form and will continue to carry
out other scheduled missions.  JAXA is the largest lunar mission since
the famed U.S. Apollo mission more than 40 years ago.

The China's Chang'e 1 lunar orbiter successfully joined SELENE in the moon's orbit with images and data from Chang'e 1 expected later this month.

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an example
By sj420 on 11/10/2007 1:27:20 PM , Rating: 1
This is just an example of technology.

If japan has this (and if the earth unites to get into space faster) we could create a "searcher" that could map planets very easily in high-definition for critical review. Finding planets is important, just because the ones in our nearest galaxy are dead doesn't mean that other planets beyond our own aren't out there kicking. Hell a new universe is forming new planets not too far off. One even looks to be a water planet. So who knows, this could end up being the pioneering technology that maps planets for terraforming later on. It could search for life via this mapping system. It could also map other things like asteroid fields for when we must pass through them, and other things that we might land on and mine for their precious rare minerials-materials-metals that aren't on earth.

Heh, even watch the space station in HD instead of that artifacted Crap like on nasatv.

Who knows, but it is nice to see progress on anything to do with space.




RE: an example
By FITCamaro on 11/10/2007 2:46:21 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
Hell a new universe is forming new planets not too far off.


Really? Mr. Data, please construct an inverse polarity magnetic containment system to contain this proto-universe before it starts expanding and breaking up our own.

I think you meant galaxy. And just because the number of light years is small, doesn't mean its close. The closest solar system to ours with current technology is over 100 years away.

I'm all for creating faster ships and what not, but we're a long ways away from being able to travel to the other planets in our solar system, much less another solar system. So unless the Vulcans show up, we're gonna be on this planet for a while.


RE: an example
By BladeVenom on 11/10/2007 3:42:06 PM , Rating: 5
But the Vulcans won't show up until after we have faster than light travel.


RE: an example
By LogicallyGenius on 11/10/07, Rating: -1
RE: an example
By LogicallyGenius on 11/11/07, Rating: -1
RE: an example
By SiliconAddict on 11/11/2007 3:59:52 AM , Rating: 5
You are a fucking idiot. And that isn't an insult its the damn truth. If you had any clue about science or anything relating to space you damn well would know that such a concept is beyond retarded.


RE: an example
By LogicallyGenius on 11/12/07, Rating: -1
RE: an example
By Spivonious on 11/12/2007 8:29:42 AM , Rating: 1
What exactly is a google-like image?


RE: an example
By LogicallyGenius on 11/12/07, Rating: -1
RE: an example
By Farfignewton on 11/10/2007 4:10:16 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
The closest solar system to ours with current technology is over 100 years away.


100 years? I came up with over 5300 years to travel 4 light years given a speed of 50,000 m.p.h. for the rocket, which as far as I know is our fastest means of travel for anything more than an electromagnetic signal. And that's a straight line.

Technically 5300 years IS over 100 as you said, but at that point you've gone beyond understatement to euphemism . ;)


RE: an example
By masher2 (blog) on 11/11/2007 2:05:25 PM , Rating: 2
> "given a speed of 50,000 m.p.h. for the rocket, which as far as I know is our fastest means of travel "

It'd be hard to get much above that with chemical-based propulsion. But since the 1960s, we've had the means to build pulsed-fission rockets, which would allow a trip to Alpha Centauri in a couple centuries. Using the "near-future" technology of inertial fusion, a rocket could make the trip in 50 years or less...see "Project Daedalus" for details.


RE: an example
By ChristopherO on 11/12/2007 2:01:53 AM , Rating: 3
What blows my mind is that Voyager 1 is about 104.5 AU distant from the sun. Eris' aphelion is 97.5 AU. That makes Voyager the only man-made object to push further into space than the largest known dwarf planet. And Voyager was launched in 1977. 30 years of progress and it still hasn't found the gate leading out of the solar system's yard.

I'm amazed we've accomplished so much, but am quite unhappy that the glory days seem to be meaningless for the average person.

I just turned 30, and I hope that I get to see man set foot on Mars before my own demise. It's rather pathetic that our parents saw our push into the heavens, and here we are, misplacing our keys and forgetting how to get to the moon.

Sure President Bush set lofty goals (revisiting the moon, and eventually Mars), but the one universal constant is that Congress loves shaving the NASA budget (not to mention the American public did their best impression of crickets at the suggestion of a lofty new purpose). With the way things are going, by the time I'm 60, they'll be lucky if they can afford a trebuchet to shoot boulders into the Atlantic.

It would be nice if we had a common goal instead of getting mired in the "left versus right" that has become all of modern governance.

Suddenly I have an urge to watch The Right Stuff and Apollo 13.


RE: an example
By wordsworm on 11/12/2007 6:52:41 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
given a speed of 50,000 m.p.h. for the rocket

Due to the gravitation effect of the Sun, our best rockets (I refer to Russia's Engeria of course) would only make it to Jupiter. It can pick up momentum from the planets. Speaking of which, it sure is a shame that to get a really good slingshot from the sun would incinerate the rocket. Unfortunately, to do all this takes years to accomplish - and perfect timing.

It's my opinion, though, that we still haven't come to terms with our fastest 'particle' (I use that term loosely), which would be the graviton. The graviton is unfortunately underestimated in its importance, power, and speed. Should we learn to tap into it, we'll find all the infinites we need to progress to the 'Star Trek' realm of reality. A lot of folks believe that this kind of travel is impossible, the fastest thing in the universe is light, but I keep in mind that these are the same reincarnated souls that said travel to the moon was impossible.

Einstein made some vital mistakes in his theories. He mistakenly believed that time is bent with speed, and that objects can shrink and lengthen depending on that variable. Unfortunately, that only describes a visual representation, which is not an accurate representation of time. Time is constant.

I've read that nuclear reactors have the ability to destroy matter to make energy. I wonder if it's possible to make matter from energy. If a cycle could be established, then based on the properties that matter has mass and energy has no mass, if an efficient conversion process could be established, then simply by creating a black hole to the fore of a ship, having the ship 'free fall' to the black hole, having the black hole then converted back to energy to be reconverted back to matter at a further point, in this way a ship could theoretically reach infinite speeds. Of course, many of you might suspect that creating a black hole might cause a disturbance to other objects, such as planets and stars, that happen to be in the ship's path. So, obviously, some form of gravitonic shield would need to be established. Of course, the hope is that by the time we figure out how to create the matter/antimatter process, we could also maybe come up with gravitonic shielding.

In any case, at infinite speeds, we could go anywhere we wanted, and wouldn't that be grand? But... it won't be George Bush II, the current evil emperor, ruling the world. In fact, it'll probably be Indonesia that's ruling the world by then. (a little indijestion if you don't mind)


RE: an example
By omnicronx on 11/10/2007 6:59:37 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
The closest solar system to ours with current technology is over 100 years away.
We don't even know what the closest 'solar system' is.. It has been suspected for many years that Alpha Centauri contains planets, and is one of the only known stars that has the potential for terrestrial life. By the way.. it's only 5 light years away..

I agree with you though, we are a long way from traveling distances like that. 5 lightyears is not too far though ;)


RE: an example
By BAFrayd on 11/11/2007 6:04:40 PM , Rating: 2
" 5 lightyears is not too far though ;)"

Oh really? Too far for what? Let's run the numbers...

670,616,629.2 MPH (The speed of light)
*8760 (hours per year)
*5 (number of years)
=29,373,008,358,960 miles

I believe the numbers above show that what we are witnessing here, is a disconnect between reality and fantasy. Put away the Star Wars, Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica science-FICTION videos, and (re)enter the world of reality and real science. Short of divine intervention, no human being will ever travel 5 light years during their lifetime.
Ever.


RE: an example
By Ringold on 11/11/2007 11:20:10 PM , Rating: 2
Unless my understanding is off, if the acceleration could be handled, a human being could travel 5 light years during their lifetime.

Might be quite a bit longer from our perspective, but that's not quite what you said, is it? :P

And no need to bash Star Trek; put down the flame-thrower, watch some TOS, and note how many totally fictional technologies exist today and are, in fact, vastly improved in some respects from the original vision.

This is especially true if you look at the Enterprise as captained by Pike; laser weapons and fusion-warhead torpedos.

Shields? Okay, so thats not likely. Warp drive? I've been told worm holes are more likely. But if you watch Star Trek for the warp drive, BSG for the jump drive (which has never been shown on screen), or Star Wars for the hyperdrive, then you wouldn't be the type of geek I'd associate with. :P There's a bit more to it then that..

Oh, and, in case you hadn't noticed, the next generation of aircraft carriers are fitted with hardpoints and electrical grids suited to power laser weapons. Hmm.


RE: an example
By scrapsma54 on 11/12/2007 9:08:04 AM , Rating: 2
If NAsa was not government funded we would be farther in Aeronautics and Space travel. We need competition, thats how many great ideas are forced. Space travel is slowly progressing, but is in a sad state compared to computer technology.


RE: an example
By lompocus on 11/10/2007 3:23:44 PM , Rating: 2
ever remember the announcement around 3 years ago (I forgot the project name) for 2012-2016 a ub3r telescope that'll make hubble look like an ant?

built by americans, too :)


RE: an example
By Ringold on 11/10/2007 4:25:32 PM , Rating: 6
Talking about the Terrestrial Planet Finder, TPF?

From wiki:
quote:
Congressional spending limits under House Resolution 20 passed on January 31, 2007, by the United States House of Representatives and February 14 by the U.S. Senate have all but cancelled the program.


quote:
However, as of April 2007, actual funding has not materialized, and TPF remains without a launch date.


Somebody, say it aint so! I already sent one letter to my Senator this year, I don't want to have to send a second whining about this. For god sakes, my Senator is Bill Nelson, you'd think he'd be championing something like this. House Reps get pork to the tune of tens of millions in the Defense budget for things like teaching minorities how to play golf and Nelson can't swing some money NASA's way?!


RE: an example
By Goty on 11/10/2007 7:31:06 PM , Rating: 2
I think he's talking about the James Webb Space Telescope.


RE: an example
By Ringold on 11/10/2007 7:47:03 PM , Rating: 2
Perhaps, that makes sense too, but the wiki notes it as very much an international cooperative project.

quote:
JWST is an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. Formerly called the Next Generation Space Telescope (or NGST), it was renamed after NASA's second administrator, James E. Webb, in 2002. The telescope's launch is planned for no earlier than June 2013. It will be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket.


TPF, on the other hand, is NASA alone.


RE: an example
By Ringold on 11/10/2007 8:54:22 PM , Rating: 2
I've continued searching, exhausted all the sources I use to hunt down NASA-related news, and not found an answer I find acceptable on TPF..

http://www.nasa.gov/about/budget/FY_2007/index.htm...

If one checks the 5.1mb PDF 'Full Document' under FY 2007 Budget Request, on page 80 one will note..

quote:
The Terrestrial Planet Finding project (TPF) has been deferred indefinitely.


http://www.nasa.gov/about/budget/

However, looking at the above's FY 2008 budget request, on page 211, they include "limited funding" for TPF under the Navigator program (of which I know nothing presently).

quote:
TPF is in pre-formulation phase, and is undertaking technology risk reduction activities.


The Space Interferometer, what I understood to be as a precursor, also takes a significant budget hit;

quote:
Due to budgetary constraints, SIM is funded at a level that supports engineering risk reduction, and additional work on mission design and core expertise in interferometry and related science.


Page 260.

From 100m in FY07 to 21.6m requested in FY 08.

The only thing that might bring some comfort is this qualifying statement on 255:

quote:
The SIM, TPF, and Michelson Science Center project plans for FY 2008 are under revision at this time.


The fact that they are stilling talking about it is somewhat comforting, but until the OP's post made me check wiki to see what was up I had thought it was a sacred cow project continuing at full steam, not some back-burner project teetering on the brink of the abyss.

I, for one, can't think of what might be more important than finding roughly Earth-sized planets. It's not a Republican issue, nor a Democrat issue, but a human mission, particularly an American one. I'm disappointed.

I did the legwork for my own curiosity, but there it is for anyone else that was turning blue holding their breath for the TPF to spot the Vulcans.

http://planetary.org/programs/projects/sos/2007100...

That's also good news, but probably doesn't mean anything for space science projects, just breathing room for 'the stick'.


RE: an example
By cbo on 11/11/2007 8:23:43 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
like teaching minorities how to play golf


Vote me down but... That has some more immediate results like familiarizing minorities with the nuances of the corporate world.


RE: an example
By Ringold on 11/11/2007 5:02:23 PM , Rating: 1
We've still got the sons of steel workers and blue collar families running for President, and a black man is probably the best golfer in the world.

Sorry if I fail to see why the federal government should be stealing (and thats what an income tax essentially is -- we earned it, not the government) more American money to buy votes for some government hack's next election by teaching minorities how to play a sport. If the black community, which is really what we mean when we say "minority", wants to learn golf, let them pay higher taxes. You can always find worthy projects for other peoples money.

If nothing else, that's a job of local government anyway. If local citizens want their local minorities to play golf, local citizens can pay. What this pork is saying is that the locals want the minorities to play golf but want rich men across the nation to pay for it.

NASA, on other hand, provides knowledge for all Americans, white black and green -- all of humanity, for that matter. Not only that, it's technology that gets spun off benefits everyone via the economy. Compared to other bottomless financial pit federal programs with negligible results, something like the TPF is practically cheap, and finding an Earth-sized planet with an atmosphere with a chemistry suggestive of life would be.. big.


Hmmm
By Harkonnen on 11/10/2007 11:54:00 PM , Rating: 5
Might have been nice to have a link right to the full resolution pictures instead of having to dig through JAXA's site.....

Here they are for everyone:

http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/11/img/20071107_kagu...

http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/11/img/20071107_kagu...

http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/11/img/20071107_kagu...




RE: Hmmm
By Xenoterranos on 11/11/2007 1:16:16 AM , Rating: 3
These are going to make awesome textures for future Unreal Tournament maps...


RE: Hmmm
By Bladen on 11/11/2007 6:08:19 AM , Rating: 2
Is it just me, or do they (particularly the first one) look like they were taken from Unreal Tournament or the like?


RE: Hmmm
By JKflipflop98 on 11/12/2007 12:51:10 AM , Rating: 2
It's modeling the altitude in 3D like google earth, hence why you see the jaggies. American probes are capable of free 4xAA, while the Japanese model has more storage space.


RE: Hmmm
By drebo on 11/11/2007 11:06:21 AM , Rating: 2
Well, I guess the moon really isn't made of cheese.

Damn.


RE: Hmmm
By SkyBum on 11/12/2007 9:48:01 PM , Rating: 2
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/11/img/20071107_kagu... Here is the pic in question in hi res


Apollo Landing
By electriple9 on 11/11/2007 9:24:18 AM , Rating: 2
Will they take some images of the Apollo landing.
Thanks




RE: Apollo Landing
By FITCamaro on 11/11/2007 1:10:00 PM , Rating: 2
Even if they do, the conspiracy nut jobs out there will just be like "its a doctored photo". Some people you'll never be able to convince.


RE: Apollo Landing
By Ringold on 11/11/2007 5:05:55 PM , Rating: 3
I was about to say that perhaps in 30 or so years, naysayers could just take a trip to the Moon and see the remnants for themselves..

But then I realized they'd say they were only recently planted there.

Alas..


RE: Apollo Landing
By Azsen on 11/11/2007 8:29:04 PM , Rating: 2
How about some RAW photos. Would that do the trick?


RE: Apollo Landing
By xsilver on 11/11/2007 9:08:45 PM , Rating: 2
I think a time capsule suppository would be more likely to do the trick.


omg!!
By Arik5405 on 11/10/2007 1:03:45 PM , Rating: 2
we've landed on the moon!




RE: omg!!
By lompocus on 11/10/2007 3:26:45 PM , Rating: 2
and it took pictures to finally make you realize that?!?!?!?


RE: omg!!
By feraltoad on 11/10/2007 9:59:07 PM , Rating: 2
Thats what THEY want you to think!!! <adjusts aluminum foil "hat">


RE: omg!!
By BruceLeet on 11/12/2007 6:53:32 AM , Rating: 2
reminds me of Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber lol


RE: omg!!
By Arik5405 on 11/12/2007 1:08:27 PM , Rating: 2
lol thats exactly what its from...


WTF?
By andrewsdw on 11/10/2007 1:06:26 PM , Rating: 5
It's sad to see that we have dropped the ball on the space program. I mean...where would we all be without Tang?




RE: WTF?
By FITCamaro on 11/10/2007 2:41:13 PM , Rating: 5
Tang is now the name of the astronaut.


Emmm...
By zhaltees on 11/12/2007 1:46:36 AM , Rating: 2
Interesting... On the Kaguya_03 photo there are something like remnants of dried rivers or something... Did i miss something?




RE: Emmm...
By SkyBum on 11/12/2007 9:46:05 PM , Rating: 2
Was wondering the same thing. Odd.


RE: Emmm...
By SkyBum on 11/12/2007 9:48:44 PM , Rating: 2
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/11/img/20071107_kagu... Here is the pic in question in hi res


First Lunar images taken from more than 100 kilometers?
By Etsp on 11/10/2007 1:17:27 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
The captured images are the first ever lunar images taken from more than 100 kilometers above the moon's surface.
I'm pretty sure that people have taken pictures of the moon from earth, which is a good bit more than 100 kilometers "above" the moons surface.




By Tsuwamono on 11/10/2007 7:05:39 PM , Rating: 2
i should get the record... i took a picture with my camera phone while waiting at a bus stop one time..


Recorded with a TV?
By JTKTR on 11/10/2007 1:44:20 PM , Rating: 2
How can you record with a tv? Shouldnt be a high def camera or something?




RE: Recorded with a TV?
By AnotherGuy on 11/10/2007 3:23:14 PM , Rating: 2
yeah i saw that too :)


RE: Recorded with a TV?
By Michael Hoffman on 11/10/2007 3:32:59 PM , Rating: 1
Here is what was published on the JAXA web site:
quote:
The image shooting was carried out by the onboard high definition television (HDTV) of the KAGUYA
I hope I was able to clear it up a bit.


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