40 years after Apollo’s end, the moon looms again as future destination
(Photo: Gene Cernan / NASA file)
In the 40 years since NASA’s last lunar landing, the moon has had its ups and downs as the target for humanity’s next giant leap — but the idea of returning to the moon is on the rise again.
Source: nbcnews.to
40 years later, Apollo 17’s Blue Marble leaves a mark on our memory
(Photo: NASA / AFP)
It’s been exactly 40 years since NASA sent astronauts to the moon for the last time, and even though more than half of all Americans weren’t alive when Apollo 17 got off the ground, the mission still has a big impact on our collective memory.
Source: nbcnews.to
Blue moon shines around the world
(Photo: Vesa Vauhkonen)
Tonight’s blue moon may not be as rare as it sounds, but it’s still special — as is every glorious full moon, whichever color you use to describe it.
Actually, the term “blue moon” is something of a misnomer. There’s no reason for the full moon to be any bluer than usual (though it’s certainly possible for the moon to take on a blue tinge). Instead, it has to do with the extra occurrence of a full moon in a given calendar cycle.
Source: photoblog.nbcnews.com
See the blue moon tonight, then say goodbye until 2015
(Photo: Picasa / Sid Vedula)
A blue moon will grace the night sky Friday night, giving skywatchers their last chance to observe this celestial phenomenon for nearly three years.
The moon will wax to its full phase at 9:58 a.m. EDT Friday, bringing August’s full moon count to two (the first one occurred Aug. 1). Two full moons won’t rise in a single month again until July 2015.
Source: MSNBC
