homehome Home chatchat Notifications


NASA's stunning, 4K 'Tour of the Moon' is just as good as visiting the place -- if not better

Eye candy galore.

Alexandru Micu
April 11, 2018 @ 4:57 pm

share Share

If you can’t seem to get a hold of a ticket to the Moon, fret not — NASA intends to help you see all the attractions without ever having to leave your chair.

In the fall of 2011, NASA released its original Tour of the Moon: a five-minute clip that takes viewers on a virtual tour of the Moon we know and love. The clip was created using data beamed back by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which, at the time, had spent roughly two years hiking about and studying Earth’s satellite.

It’s been six years since then, and NASA hasn’t been wasting time. The Agency has recreated the Tour in blockbuster-worthy 4k, using the same camera path, but drawing on the much-expanded pool of knowledge the LRO gathered for us since. It feels like an odd (but awesome) crossover between a vacation promo and a science documentary, moving between regular views and colorful, digitally-enhanced footage that shows off some the moon’s fascinating geologic features — all set to a symphonic soundtrack that bellows just under the voice-over.

Without further ado, here it is:

The constantly-shadowed areas near the poles pose obvious difficulty for photographers trying to capture a pic — so NASA measured the areas using altimetry. Landing sites closer to the equator, where there’s light aplenty, were imaged in resolutions as high as 10 inches / 25 centimeters per pixel.

The new tour also takes a look at the mineral composition of the Aristarchus plateau, follows evidence of surface water ice in some areas near the south pole, and a glimpse at the Orientale basin’s gravitational profile.

share Share

A Soviet shuttle from the Space Race is about to fall uncontrollably from the sky

A ghost from time past is about to return to Earth. But it won't be smooth.

The world’s largest wildlife crossing is under construction in LA, and it’s no less than a miracle

But we need more of these massive wildlife crossings.

Your gold could come from some of the most violent stars in the universe

That gold in your phone could have originated from a magnetar.

Ronan the Sea Lion Can Keep a Beat Better Than You Can — and She Might Just Change What We Know About Music and the Brain

A rescued sea lion is shaking up what scientists thought they knew about rhythm and the brain

Did the Ancient Egyptians Paint the Milky Way on Their Coffins?

Tomb art suggests the sky goddess Nut from ancient Egypt might reveal the oldest depiction of our galaxy.

Dinosaurs Were Doing Just Fine Before the Asteroid Hit

New research overturns the idea that dinosaurs were already dying out before the asteroid hit.

Denmark could become the first country to ban deepfakes

Denmark hopes to pass a law prohibiting publishing deepfakes without the subject's consent.

Archaeologists find 2,000-year-old Roman military sandals in Germany with nails for traction

To march legionaries across the vast Roman Empire, solid footwear was required.

Mexico Will Give U.S. More Water to Avert More Tariffs

Droughts due to climate change are making Mexico increasingly water indebted to the USA.

Chinese Student Got Rescued from Mount Fuji—Then Went Back for His Phone and Needed Saving Again

A student was saved two times in four days after ignoring warnings to stay off Mount Fuji.