Observing the dark side of the moon.....

Ladies/Gentlemen:

I have an idea to permanently observe the dark side of the moon, though I'm not sure of its scientific importance. But, I'm sure there are scientists out there that could think of a thousand uses for it. This idea is submitted in a little different format.

* Obama had discussed a new trip to the moon around the first of the year I believe. Then, without any reason I can remember, he just canceled the whole idea. I think he made that decision back in May or so. For some reason, I feel we will be returning to the moon again in the near future though. I do read a lot of people talking about going back anyway.

* My idea is simple. (This isn't rocket science, you know. Hmm, or is it? Well, part of it would be I guess.) Anyway, the first step would be to determine the position and angle a mirror would have to be placed that would reflect the other side of the moon back to earth.

* Then we determine how to take the best advantage of the mirror being there. Maybe we decide to build a remote controlled, multi-lensed mirror. Just whatever it takes to insure we cover as much area as possible. Many options here.

* Anyone questioning our capability of actually observing the mirror well enough to get full, 100% imagery back to earth? Good, didn't think so.....

* I could go on more on this but I don't think I'd be accomplishing much.


I do have a couple of questions I'm curious about though.
< Why haven't we already done something like the above idea?
< Telescopes already exist powerful enough they can find planets that probably don't exist anymore 'cause they're so far away. We shouldn't have to send actual rockets releasing payloads to the moon to get some pretty dam sharp pictures of our side of the moon, should we? (I mean by having that much telescope power.)

Anyway, we can always break out our old 8-tracks of "Pink Floyd's-The Dark Side of the Moon", and look at them if my mirror-idea never comes to fruition.

Peace and best regards,
Chris.....uh, I mean CBS01

Our country is in a crazy debt that is why he cancelled the moon missions.... it was all to get the votes. Why would we spend millions on going back to the moon when we have more important things to spend money on.

reply to post by Reign02


Exactly why explore the moon when you can start wars with NK and Iran. The money needs to be put to good use. More and more military for more and more wars. Bring on the bloodshed.

reply to post by CBS01


Interesting... you do realise that there have been many missions to the moon that has mapped and photographed virtually the entire surface of the moon right?

LRO

SELENE

CHANDRAYAN

Etc, etc

Originally posted by CBS01
I have an idea to permanently observe the dark side of the moon

Firstly, you should refer to it as the far side, not the dark side, since all sides of the Moon get Sun light at one point or another.

Secondly, as Chadwickus mentioned. Using a satellite would be the best way. Sending a giant mirror just wouldn't be practical or cost effective.

the moon is no longer of any use to us. pass the launch code, let's do away with this useless hunk of space crap.

reply to post by CBS01


A Mirror? Why not just have them put a satellite with a camera in geosynchronous orbit around the moon?

I see no reason why we cannot observe the dark side of the moon. I think the Gov has been doing it for years and is keeping whats up there from us.

Just add a pic....why op don't you try infrom yourself before open such threads?


far side from apollo 11

As mentioned, we have sent several spacecraft which have photographed an mapped the entire Moon (including the far side). Here is one resource -- an image browser for the Clementine Spacecraft images taken back in the mid-1990s. There are other resources (and better images, such as images from the LRO spacecraft), but for now, this Clementine image browser is the most user-friendly for seeing the entire Moon:

Clementine Spacecraft Image Browser

Also, Google Moon is very user-friendly, but I think (although I may be wrong) they mostly use the Clementine images.

Google Moon

...and If you have downloaded the Google Earth Program, you can also view detailed images of the far side of the Moon using that program.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has taken (and is still taking) some great hi-res images of all parts of the Moon, But I haven't found a good browser for viewing a map and accessing the hi-res images.

I hope someday when the LRO has taken all of its pictures, an interactive map would be developed similar to the Clementine map:

LRO Camera Website

NASA's LRO website




[edit on 7/27/2010 by Soylent Green Is People]

CBS01:

You come up with some of the most stupid ideas sometimes. You should stick with just reading other peoples posts and stay out of the way. I bet you only have about 8 brain cells left due to brain abuse from the ages of about 17 to 30.

And just because you wanna have fun with a little "play on words" by referencing Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" doesn't mean you should. Keep in mind this is the the second most highly read scientific source in the U.S., right behind "Scientific American". So no attempts at a little humor is tolerated.

And just because you wanted to use the cheapest way possible to keep an eye on the aliens on the DARK side of the moon doesn't mean you should share it with anyone!!

And just because Helium-3 is thought to be in abundance enough on the moon to free the world from fossil fuels, does not justify going back there you dumbutt. (That's just a sidenote on a couple of other comments people made.)

Time for a couple of cocktails, peace,
CBS01

Ladies/Gents:

I really do appreciate all the responses. Despite my earlier sarcasm, I learned and am continuing to learn a lot here. I'm absolutely in love with astrophysics, especially the theoretical part of it. It would kill me to have one of my stupid threads be taken wrong. Thanks to everyone so far and I look forward to seeing anything else anyone has to add.

Sincerely,
Chris

reply to post by CBS01


you are right and this is a great place to learn. I started a thread a while back and called "Why we dont see the dark side of the moon" and was corrected....

Check the thread and the youtube video which shows how the moon rotates around earth...both sides of the moon get as much light from the sun ...

Link to thread

Dark side of the moon?

Bangs head against wall...

ARRRRR!!!

reply to post by Reign02


have to disagree with you on this one. why spend millions of dollars blowing up ice on the back side of the moon with a missle on this presidents watch

nothing adds up-nothing

Originally posted by Soylent Green Is People

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has taken (and is still taking) some great hi-res images of all parts of the Moon, But I haven't found a good browser for viewing a map and accessing the hi-res images.

I hope someday when the LRO has taken all of its pictures, an interactive map would be developed similar to the Clementine map:

LRO Camera Website


[edit on 7/27/2010 by Soylent Green Is People]

Oh but there is, right in your link.

- From the main page, click on "Images" and select "PDS Archive Interface". This brings up the interactive map.

- Then click on the "Toggle Layers" box. From there you can change the type of map you're seeing, and can check which type of images you want shown (Narrow and/or wide angle, commisioning photos and/or the higher resolution primary mission photos). When you have made your selections, click on the "Update Layers" box at the bottom (note that you may have to scroll-down to see this box).

- Once you have updated the layers, it may take upwards of a minute for all of the markers for the image swaths to appear. Note that the more zoomed-in you are, the fewer swaths it has to draw, and the faster they'll appear. Over on the right you can enter a specific lat/long to center the map, or you can click on "Recenter" or "Recenter Zoom".

- When you see the swath you want, then select "Get Footprint Info" and click on that swath. Down at the bottom of the page, the image thumbnails will appear. Click on them to bring-up the zoomable interface and also have the option to download the images at full res.

This is the same type of interface that runs the Apollo Image Archive's Metric Camera "WMS Image Map".

Enjoy!

Originally posted by 2weird2live2rare2die
the moon is no longer of any use to us. pass the launch code, let's do away with this useless hunk of space crap.

Ummm. Well, for one...our tidally locked satellite is responsible for the ebb and flow of our oceans' surface water. If we were to pass you the launch codes, you could do something even more moronic than that last post, and end life/civilization at least as we know it, causing such a massive loss of knowledge base that it would throw survivors into the stone age.


Useless hunk of crap.

Wow. Just wow.

Random thread thoughts:

I don't like the far side of the moon designation. Let's call it the other side of the moon.

If there is a half moon out at night, is it half light or half dark?

Words on giant moon mirror..."Craters may be closer than they appear."

When is Chandyran going to show us all of the moon bases? I've got the popcorn.


"Is this where the Coyote straps himself to that rocket?"
"Rockhound."
"No, seriously Harry, cause it didn't work out too good for the Coyote."
"Er, we've got much better rockets than the Coyote."

I'm out..

[edit on 29-7-2010 by badgerprints]