Throughout their histories, both the Moon and Earth have been bombarded by meteorites and asteroids, which often leave behind dramatic impact craters.
Published Aug 13, 2009
When the Apollo 11 astronauts left the surface of the Moon on July 21, 1969, they brought home samples of solar wind particles, lunar rocks and dirt, and a big helping of perspective.
Published Jul 20, 2019
Two asteroids crashed into Earth in the Carboniferous Period, leaving this distinctive pair of craters in northwestern Quebec.
Published Nov 23, 2013
On July 19, 2013, NASA spacecraft got not one but two rare and unique views of Earth from opposite ends of the solar system.
Published Jul 24, 2013
Sixteen operating satellites monitor Earth. Four more are scheduled to launch in 2014.
Published Jul 5, 2013
Looking back from its orbit around Mercury, MESSENGER captured this view of Earth and the Moon on May 6, 2010.
Published Sep 9, 2010
Acquired April 30, 2010, this natural-color image shows Goat Paddock Crater in northwestern Australia. The slightly elliptical crater spans roughly 5 kilometers.
Published May 23, 2010
From 31 million miles away, how could you tell that there was life on Earth? Scientists used the remote vantage point of NASA’s Deep Impact spacecraft to shoot a sequence of images that will help to help answer that question.
Published Jul 22, 2008
Precession—the change in orientation of the Earth's rotational axis—alters the orientation of the Earth with respect to perihelion and aphelion.
Published Mar 24, 2000
Acquired February 18, 2010, this true-color image shows Lake Acraman and surrounding saltpans in South Australia. The sprawling saltpans appear off-white, and the largely bare soils appear in shades of orange and brown.
Published Feb 28, 2010
As the spacecraft headed into its last days, it sent back this image of Earth framed by Saturn’s rings.
Published Apr 29, 2017
A powerful telescope on a satellite orbiting Mars turned its gaze back on Earth.
Published Jan 21, 2017
The Curiosity rover on Mars looked up and saw home on the horizon.
Published Mar 9, 2014
Spider Crater rests in a depression some 13 by 11 kilometers (8 by 7 miles) across. Meteorite craters often have central areas of uplift, and Spider Crater fits this pattern. Spider Crater sits in a depression and has a central uplift area characteristic of impact craters, it shows extreme differences in erosion, giving it a unique appearance.
Published Mar 30, 2008
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