Elsewhere on the cyberspace , you may have understand of a " mystery " object photographed orbiting the Moon , which has been identified by NASA .
The photos , which are real , show a thin dark streak above the lunar open , go at an apparent great speed . The persona was bewitch by NASA ’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter ( LRO ) – but despite media reports of mysterious " surfboard " flying above the Moon , there is no greatmysteryas to what the object is , and there never has been .
The LRO ’s camera ( LROC ) was poised and ready to enamor the image , which they needed to be as the aim beneath it was traveling at relative velocities of over3.2 kilometers per second(2 miles per second ) .
Danuri captured from 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) above.Image credit: NASA/Goddard/Arizona State University
" Due to the fast relative velocities between the two ballistic capsule ( about 7,200 miles , or 11,500 km , per hour ) , the LRO operations team at NASA ’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt , Maryland , needed exquisite timing in show LROC to the right place at the right meter to enamor a glimpse of Danuri , the Republic of Korea ’s first spacecraft at the Moon , " NASA explained in astatement .
During three cranial orbit that encounter to be close enough to Danuri , the LRO captured images from up to 8 kilometers ( 5 mi ) above it .
conquer the icon required split - second timing and truehearted shutter speeds , but despite this blurring was still inevitable .
The orbiter, passing overhead.Image credit: NASA/KARI/Arizona State University
" Although LRO ’s photographic camera exposure time was very unforesightful , only 0.338 milliseconds , Danuri still appear smirch to 10 times its size in the diametric counsel of traveling because of the proportional in high spirits traveling velocities between the two spacecraft , " NASA explicate .
The South Korean ballistic capsule is also up to of call for photographs . Using the NASA - funded instrumentShadowCam , the orbiter captured an icon of LRO in April 2023 .
Now , thanks to excellent timing from NASA , we have both views .
