Microwave Map of Entire Moon Revealed

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Microwave Map of Entire Moon Revealed

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday September 22, 2010 @07:31AM from the quickest-route-mode dept.

Zothecula writes "The first complete microwave image of the Moon taken by Chinese lunar satellite Chang'E-1 has been revealed. Chang'E-1 is China's first scientific mission to explore planetary bodies beyond Earth and the on-board Lunar Microwave Radiometer has made it possible for the first time to globally map the Moon in microwave frequencies. Radar observations of the Moon are unable to provide thermal information, and microwave observations taken from Earth cannot reach the far side of the moon. So Chang'E-1's (CE-1) orbit was conducted at an altitude of 200km (124 miles) and allowed it to observe every location of the moon with a nadir view and at high spatial resolution."

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What? by camperdave · 2010-09-22 07:32 · Score: 1

What? No posts yet about microwaves and green cheese? Slashdot is slipping.

--
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
1. Re:What? by $RANDOMLUSER · 2010-09-22 07:43 · Score: 1
  
  Never mind that shit, where are the TMA-1 jokes?
  
  --
  No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
2. Re:What? by clone53421 · 2010-09-22 07:47 · Score: 1
  
  That’s an awful lot of toasted cheese... where on earth will we find a large enough hunk of bread?
  
  --
  Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
3. Re:What? by catmistake · 2010-09-22 07:59 · Score: 1
  
  nice.
  
  --
  The Admin and the Engineer
4. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 08:01 · Score: 0
  
  Now, I know where the best place to pop my corn kernels is.
5. Re:What? by ShadowFalls · 2010-09-22 08:36 · Score: 1
  
  I wonder if they had to flip the Moon over halfway during the process... I know I can't get good results when I forget.
6. Re:What? by Hognoxious · 2010-09-22 09:18 · Score: 1
  
  When I saw "whole moon" the first thing I thought of was goatse.
  
  --
  Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
FTFP by Pojut · 2010-09-22 07:33 · Score: 1

That would make a cool looking shirt.

--
Living With a Nerd
1. Re:FTFP by clone53421 · 2010-09-22 08:32 · Score: 1
  
  I think I saw the bikini version, but at the time I just thought it was supposed to be tie-dye.
  
  --
  Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
2. Re:FTFP by srussia · 2010-09-22 09:08 · Score: 1
  
  That would make a cool looking shirt.
  Agree. Especially when they open the Hooters branch in the Sea of Tranquility.
  
  --
  Set your phasers on "funky"!
That sound like it would by Even+on+Slashdot+FOE · 2010-09-22 07:34 · Score: 1

make some good dip for my nachos. Mmmm. Green cheese...
1. Re:That sound like it would by $RANDOMLUSER · 2010-09-22 08:12 · Score: 1
  
  They're Asians! They're lactose intolerant! GTFO with the cheese jokes!
  
  --
  No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
Obama was right! by erroneus · 2010-09-22 07:36 · Score: 4, Funny

This is Chang'E I can believe in!
Grain of Salt by Midnight's+Shadow · 2010-09-22 07:43 · Score: 2, Insightful

I hate to besmirch the name of the good Chinese researchers that I know but I wouldn't trust this. There has been too many bad publications out of China and Chinese universities. The link doesn't even mention a journal that the results will be published in. They do say they will present the research at the European Planetary Science Congress but that is it. (Yes I RTFL.)
Now I'm not saying they aren't capable of doing this just that it smells bad enough for me to have my doubts. We will see.

--
"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh. " -Voltaire
1. Re:Grain of Salt by blair1q · 2010-09-22 07:55 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  It puts them about 50 years behind the US and the Russians in extraterrestrial exploration.
  I don't see why it's at all fishy.
  BTW, they don't serve cat at Chinese restaurants, either.
2. Re:Grain of Salt by Hijacked+Public · 2010-09-22 08:12 · Score: 1
  
  So you're saying this whole thing might be A Ridiculous Liberal Myth?
  
  --
  "Sacrifice for the good of The State" - The State
3. Re:Grain of Salt by atamido · 2010-09-22 08:25 · Score: 0, Flamebait
  
  It puts them about 50 years behind the US and the Russians in extraterrestrial exploration.
  I don't see why it's at all fishy.
  It's not a technically difficult feat, but it is still extremely difficult to do. The Chinese (as a country) have a strong history of lying about research (and other stuff) to try and make themselves look better. This is all certainly possible, but I wouldn't put any money on it until after it's been peer reviewed.
4. Re:Grain of Salt by Midnight's+Shadow · 2010-09-22 08:27 · Score: 0, Flamebait
  
  Oh yea. The Liberals go to all the trouble of painting a moon up in the sky every night just to fuck with my head. They even moving it during the night and changing the shape nightly. /sarcasm
  What I am saying is that Chinese universities have a tendency of fostering academic misconduct in an attempt to compete with the western world's research. The fact that the people who claim to have taken this picture doesn't seem to have any publications lined up makes me wonder about the authenticity of the work. Now maybe they do and it just wasn't reported but regardless between the pictures themselves, the fact they are out of China and no mention of publication I will take this with a large grain of salt.
  
  --
  "God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh. " -Voltaire
5. Re:Grain of Salt by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 09:15 · Score: 0
  
  No.
  
  Not much difference between China's communist party and AMerica's Republicans. Both want to work hand in hand with business and give them a free hand. Just enough freedom and satisfaction to the local citizens, while seeking ways to exploit them and others. And like America's republicans, loaded with lies.
6. Re:Grain of Salt by srvivn21 · 2010-09-22 09:38 · Score: 1
  
  So you're saying this whole thing might be A Ridiculous Liberal Myth?
  Oh yea. The Liberals go to all the trouble of painting a moon up in the sky every night just to fuck with my head. They even moving it during the night and changing the shape nightly. /sarcasm
  What I am saying is that Chinese universities have a tendency of fostering academic misconduct in an attempt ...
  Grandparent's post was a oblique reference to a long running troll/joke. http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=site%3Aslashdot.org+The+moon+is+A+Ridiculous+Liberal+Myth
7. Re:Grain of Salt by Bob-taro · 2010-09-22 09:57 · Score: 1
  
  I hate to besmirch the name of the good Chinese researchers that I know but I wouldn't trust this.
  It's interesting you say that, because the images just don't make sense to me. If I understand the article, those are 2 temperature maps of the moon's surface - one is "day", one is "night", but they both seem to show the entire surface of the moon, and in both, while the temperature seems to drop off toward the poles as you would expect, there is little variation around the circumference. Am I missing something? Can anyone explain this?
  
  --
  Prov 9:8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.
8. Re:Grain of Salt by regularstranger · 2010-09-22 11:56 · Score: 1
  
  The color scale is different for each image.
9. Re:Grain of Salt by ceoyoyo · 2010-09-22 11:57 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  As the spacecraft goes around the moon it takes pictures during the day and during the night. You take the day ones and put them in one composite, and the night ones and put them in another.
  The spacecraft didn't image the whole moon (a sphere!) from 200 km up, all in one shot.
  It's just like this picture, where it's night all over the planet. Or this one, where it's day everywhere and there are no clouds.
10. Re:Grain of Salt by clone53421 · 2010-09-23 00:40 · Score: 1
  
  Also fwiw a “day” (or night) on the moon lasts ~30 days, so I think getting one “daytime” image of the entire sphere should have took at least that long.
  
  --
  Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
11. Re:Grain of Salt by Bob-taro · 2010-09-23 05:12 · Score: 1
  
  It's just like this picture, where it's night all over the planet. Or this one, where it's day everywhere and there are no clouds.
  (facepalm) Duh! Thanks, I figured I was missing something obvious, or everyone else would have been all over it before I posted.
  
  --
  Prov 9:8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.
In before... by clone53421 · 2010-09-22 07:45 · Score: 3, Insightful

“That’s no moon, it’s a space station”
etc.
While I’m opening cans of worms, I’m sure the moon hoaxers would like to know whether or not it saw the American flag we left up there.

--
Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
1. Re:In before... by jeffmeden · 2010-09-22 08:31 · Score: 1
  
  It saw where the flag was... before it got vaporized! "Flag not microwave safe". Should have gotten the made in china version. etc.etc.etc.
2. Re:In before... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 08:55 · Score: 0
  
  "Death Star"
3. Re:In before... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 09:54 · Score: 0
  
  because leaving trash behind naturally proves the presence of a human being
4. Re:In before... by kms_one · 2010-09-22 15:29 · Score: 1
  
  What about the alien moon base on the dark side of the moon? Did that show up or are the Chinese part of the conspiracy as well?
5. Re:In before... by Eraesr · 2010-09-22 21:36 · Score: 1
  
  That's actually Pink Floyd's long abandoned secret recording studio. Astoria my ass, it was a moon base all along.
the fools! by jollyreaper · 2010-09-22 07:46 · Score: 2, Funny

What happens when we find out that the moon isn't made of green cheese but filled with popcorn?! The only reason why we aren't hearing the impending popping of doom is because there's no air in space! And they did it! They went and microwaved the moon! But just you wait, the giant fluffy kernels of doom shall come raining down on us! RAINING DOWN!!!

--
Kwisatz Haderach
Sell the spice to CHOAM
This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
1. Re:the fools! by khallow · 2010-09-22 08:59 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  But just you wait, the giant fluffy kernels of doom shall come raining down on us! RAINING DOWN!!!
  At least we won't die hungry.
Nuke the earth? by ocipio · 2010-09-22 07:49 · Score: 0, Troll

This has to be a made up story. When I microwave, IN OTHER WORDS NUKE, my leftovers, it speeds up those atoms to make it warm. How does speeding up the moon make it a picture? Seems unlikely.
Besides, microwaving the moon, which causes radiation, could be very detrimental for our health, and the moon. Why hasn't the possibilities of deformities been weighed? Are we being irresponsible, or just dumb?
So to sum up, my microwave doesn't create pictures. So I don't get how you make a picture. Also, all those microwave waves are not healthy to be putting on the earth.
1. Re:Nuke the earth? by camperdave · 2010-09-22 07:56 · Score: 0, Flamebait
  
  Radar uses microwaves. The heating up food part was discovered by accident at a radar post. That's why early models were called Radarange. All this is is a radar map of the moon.
  
  --
  When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
2. Re:Nuke the earth? by clone53421 · 2010-09-22 07:56 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  But they nuked it from orbit (which is the only way to be sure) and making a picture of it (i.e. a thousand words) is pretty certain.
  
  --
  Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
3. Re:Nuke the earth? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 08:08 · Score: 0
  
  Radio also uses microwaves... just really really big ones.
Finally we have the map! by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 08:00 · Score: 0

Launch the invasion force and enslave the mooners!
Microwave Three Wolves... by drumcat · 2010-09-22 08:00 · Score: 1

If you Microwave a wolf, copy paste paste, and put this image in, you've got an astronomical t-shirt worthy of nerds everywhere.
From the headline... by sootman · 2010-09-22 08:07 · Score: 1

... I thought it was going to be a map of where all the microwaves on the moon are, like in case you find yourself stuck up there with a cold chili-dog or something.

--
Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
1. Re:From the headline... by Just_Say_Duhhh · 2010-09-22 08:13 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, I get it. Popcorn in the Sea of tranquility, Re-heated Pizza in the Ocean of Storms, and a nice cup of tea in the Messier crater. Microwave map of the moon, indeed!
  
  --
  I need trepanation like I need a hole in the head.
2. Re:From the headline... by whoop · 2010-09-22 08:57 · Score: 1
  
  So they put a map of the moon into a microwave. This is considered news these days?? Guess what, I put a marshmellow in the microwave the other day. Yippee!
Great! Now post pics of the Apollo Landers by NotInfinitumLabs · 2010-09-22 08:09 · Score: 2, Insightful

so we can finally put this conspiracy bullshit to rest.
1. Re:Great! Now post pics of the Apollo Landers by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 08:26 · Score: 0
  
  Then they'll just say that we put them there last week.
2. Re:Great! Now post pics of the Apollo Landers by ceoyoyo · 2010-09-22 11:59 · Score: 1
  
  http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/multimedia/lroimages/apollosites.html
Dark side of the spoon by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 08:10 · Score: 1

Wonder if it shows the lunar bases on the dark side of the moon! ;-)
Lunar Warming? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 08:11 · Score: 0

I am going to be the first to predict that this will lead to anthropomorphic lunar warming. Where is my Nobel?
Wait a second... ! by V!NCENT · 2010-09-22 08:18 · Score: 1

Whoah! That's no Death Star!

--
Here be signatures
Re:psychedelic boobs? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 08:19 · Score: 0

Wow. What a waste of a four-digit UID.
See if you can get your sysadmin to beat you with a cluestick.
Is it in enough detail to show Apollo landings? by jbeach · 2010-09-22 08:20 · Score: 1

So we can finally make the Moon-hoaxers shut up? One of my otherwise smart friends among them?

--
The Invisible Hand of the Free Market is what punches workers in the nuts.
1. Re:Is it in enough detail to show Apollo landings? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 08:27 · Score: 0
  
  The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter already took pictures of them.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:369234main_lroc_apollo11labeled_256x256.jpg
  The hoaxers just said that this was more hoax, or something.
2. Re:Is it in enough detail to show Apollo landings? by clone53421 · 2010-09-22 08:31 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, but I’d love to see the explanation they’d have to come up to manage to get Communist China in on the hoax. The plot thickens...
  
  --
  Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
3. Re:Is it in enough detail to show Apollo landings? by mugnyte · 2010-09-22 08:46 · Score: 1
  
  There's not a lot of "sections" to smart. If someone don't believe the US landed on the moon these days, the onus is on them to prove it. Otherwise, they're pretty dumb - like earth-is-flat dumb.
4. Re:Is it in enough detail to show Apollo landings? by MRe_nl · 2010-09-22 08:48 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  There is no Communist China.
  
  --
  "Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"
5. Re:Is it in enough detail to show Apollo landings? by X0563511 · 2010-09-22 10:20 · Score: 1
  
  You realize that they have to -gain- from making us look bad, and /not/ proving it?
  
  --
  For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
6. Re:Is it in enough detail to show Apollo landings? by jbeach · 2010-09-22 10:27 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Unfortunately people get bad information that they think settles the issue, and then budging that crap out of there is harder than shoveling gravel because their *pride* is now attached.
  
  Believe it - people who are otherwise smart fall for dumb shit all the time.
  
  --
  The Invisible Hand of the Free Market is what punches workers in the nuts.
7. Re:Is it in enough detail to show Apollo landings? by eriqk · 2010-09-22 10:49 · Score: 1
  
  Meh, they're all just immulina... lnnulima... illimani... NWO.
8. Re:Is it in enough detail to show Apollo landings? by clone53421 · 2010-09-22 11:05 · Score: 1
  
  I have a witty response, I’m sure of it... but first I have to figure out whether “they” refers to the Chinese Communists or the moon hoaxers.
  
  --
  Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
Re:psychedelic boobs? by tsalmark · 2010-09-22 08:20 · Score: 3, Informative

Psychedelic boobs may not be useful but they sure are fun.
Swirl? by Raenex · 2010-09-22 08:21 · Score: 2, Interesting

How come the images have a noticeable swirl to them? No mention of it in the article.
1. Re:Swirl? by CarpetShark · 2010-09-22 11:12 · Score: 1
  
  Because the human brain likes to interpret when presented with uninteresting data, I'd guess.
Units of Measure by Petersko · 2010-09-22 08:25 · Score: 0, Offtopic

"So Chang'E-1's (CE-1) orbit was conducted at an altitude of 200km (124 miles)"

As long as we provide the distance in miles, why don't we also give it in leagues? I'm sure somebody still uses leagues, so despite the whole world going with the International System of Units fifty years ago (except for three countries, including Burma, Liberia, and some other backward-looking nation I can't recall) we should definitely provide leagues.
1. Re:Units of Measure by The+Grim+Reefer2 · 2010-09-22 08:46 · Score: 1
  
  While in the UK I was rather shocked to see the speed limits are still in mile per hour.
2. Re:Units of Measure by whoop · 2010-09-22 08:54 · Score: 1
  
  What else would it be, furlongs per hour?
3. Re:Units of Measure by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 08:58 · Score: 0
  
  What else would it be, furlongs per hour?
  Beard-seconds per friedmen if you are traveling in Doc Brow's De Lorean.
4. Re:Units of Measure by lul_wat · 2010-09-22 09:18 · Score: 1
  
  Leagues per hour! Didn't you read the post prior to that- try and keep with the times man!
  
  --
  Divide a cake by zero. Is it still a cake?
5. Re:Units of Measure by whoop · 2010-09-22 13:09 · Score: 1
  
  We are dealing with reality here sir, please kindly keep your ficticiousness to yourself.
Re:Only the MMO is new by MRe_nl · 2010-09-22 08:45 · Score: 1

Yeah, you had to dance across the moon, fighting angry parents whilst avoiding a Chinese spacecraft trying to fry you. If you got hit there was quite the realistic clip of Michael on fire.

--
"Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"
Results of Microwave Map: by Chris+Burke · 2010-09-22 09:19 · Score: 3, Funny

No microwaves on the moon. Anyone traveling there will have to bring their own.

--

The enemies of Democracy are
1. Re:Results of Microwave Map: by willabr · 2010-09-22 11:48 · Score: 1
  
  i see at the bottom of the article that you can get one before you leave at Sears.
Re:psychedelic boobs? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 09:29 · Score: 0

no honestly. literally no one cares except a nerd or two.
Moon Bounce by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 09:51 · Score: 0

I am guessing the bright red areas are moon bounces.
"Flamebait"? Damn right. by Petersko · 2010-09-22 10:39 · Score: 0, Offtopic

Somebody modded me funny, then somebody modded me flamebait.

Rereading it, I'd like to think it's a little funny, but yes, it's definitely flamebait. No question.

Let's hope they balance out and I remain even karma-wise.
1. Re:"Flamebait"? Damn right. by clone53421 · 2010-09-23 00:42 · Score: 1
  
  +1 Funny moderations do not give you karma.
  
  --
  Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
Pics or it never happened by Anonymous Coward · 2010-09-22 11:21 · Score: 0

... oh wait
Moon Hoaxers := stupid nutters by wowbagger · 2010-09-22 12:14 · Score: 1

"I'm sure the moon hoaxers would like to know whether or not it saw the American flag we left up there."
No, they would want to know that it didn't see the flag:
Moon Hoaxer: Did it see the flag?
Chinese Scientist: Well, it's not designed to see anything that small
Moon Hoaxer (interrupting): DID IT SEE THE FLAG, YES OR NO?
Chinese Scientist: No, but it wouldn't see
Moon Hoaxer (interrupting): SEE I TOLD YOU ALL IT WAS A HOAX HERE'S PROOF.
What they wouldn't want to know would be if it did see the flag:
Moon Hoaxer: Did it see the flag?
Chinese Scientist: Actually, yes, here's the flag, here's the lander
Moon Hoaxer (interrupting): FAKE! FAKE! YOU ARE JUST IN ON THE CONSPIRACY! FAKE!

--
www.eFax.com are spammers
1. Re:Moon Hoaxers := stupid nutters by clone53421 · 2010-09-22 13:10 · Score: 1
  
  And... why, exactly, did you think that I wanted to open that can of worms?
  Sounds pretty win-win to me.
  
  --
  Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
The earth is flat around me. by reiisi · 2010-09-22 13:36 · Score: 1

Just because you and I have our heads pointed in different directions doesn't mean the earth isn't flat
locally.

--
Computer memory is just fancy paper, CPUs just fancy pens with fancy erasers; the 'net is just a fancy backyard fence.
So... by Izhido · 2010-09-22 13:37 · Score: 1

No gigantic alien Battle Station in the dark side of the Moon, just waiting for orders to unleash their unstoppable forces of Evil over our insufficiently advanced civilization?
Bummer.