![]() In 1961, the International Astronomical Union adopted a more universal definition, defining east and west from the viewpoint of someone standing on the Moon, the same way we determine directions on Earth.īecause Mare Orientale lies in the Moon’s southwestern quadrant, two conditions must be met for a good look at it: The southern and western libration extremes need to coincide, and the southwestern limb must be in sunlight. Shouldn't it be called Mare Occidentale? More than a century ago, when astronomers first studied the mare in detail, convention defined the eastern part of the Moon as the side facing east as viewed from Earth. Mare Orientale translates to the “Eastern Sea,” which seems a bit odd since it sits on the Moon’s western edge. ![]() This wide view of the waning gibbous Moon shows Mare Orientale in context during the favorable libration of Jan. This would seem to imply that only 50% of its surface is visible, but thanks to librations - the cyclic north-south nodding and east-west rocking of the Moon - the actual amount is 59%. It turns at the same rate that it revolves, with one side facing Earth. We only see the lunar nearside because the Moon’s rotation period is exactly synchronized with its period of revolution. ![]() This little-sailed sea only comes into its own when a favorable libration periodically swivels it into view. Despite being 930 kilometers (580 miles) across, the mare straddles the Moon's southwestern limb, where foreshortening often “compresses” it out of sight. If you’ve never observed the Mare Orientale bull's-eye, the Moon's youngest and best-preserved impact basin, don't kick yourself. Color-coding for gravity reveals where mass is concentrated (red) and where there’s a deficit (blue).Įrnest Wright / NASA-GSFC Scientific Visualization Studio Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday.Spanning 930 kilometers or about the distance between New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina, the Moon’s Mare Orientale exhibits three distinct, mountainous rings surrounding a central, magma-flooded basin. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015 her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Her latest book, " Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. She was contributing writer for for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well.
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