                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2025 December 6

                         Apollo 17 at Shorty Crater
                            Apollo 17 Crew, NASA

   Explanation: Fifty three years ago, in December of 1972, Apollo 17
   astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt spent about 75 hours on
   the Moon exploring the Taurus-Littrow valley, while colleague Ronald
   Evans orbited overhead. This snapshot from another world was taken by
   Cernan as he and Schmitt roamed the lunar valley's floor. The image
   shows Schmitt next to the lunar rover parked at the southeast rim of
   Shorty Crater. That location is near the spot where geologist Schmitt
   discovered orange lunar soil. The Apollo 17 crew returned with 110
   kilograms of rock and soil samples, more than was returned from any of
   the other lunar landing sites. And for now, Cernan and Schmitt are the
   last to walk on the Moon.

                 Tomorrow's picture: the spectrum of the Sun
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
                  NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices;
                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

