                        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.

                                2022 April 21

                           Apollo 16 Moon Panorama
     Image Credit: Apollo 16, NASA; Panorama Assembly: Mike Constantine

   Explanation: Fifty years ago, April 20, 1972, Apollo 16's lunar module
   Orion touched down on the Moon's near side in the south-central
   Descartes Highlands. While astronaut Ken Mattingly orbited overhead in
   Casper the friendly command and service module the Orion brought John
   Young and Charles Duke to the lunar surface. The pair would spend
   nearly three days on the Moon. Constructed from images (AS16-117-18814
   to AS16-117-18820) taken near the end of their third and final surface
   excursion this panoramic view puts the lunar module in the distance
   toward the left. Their electric lunar roving vehicle in the foreground,
   Duke is operating the camera while Young aims the high gain
   communications antenna skyward, toward planet Earth.

                            Celebrate: Earth Day
                     Tomorrow's picture: our fair planet
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

