Did you know the Moon has “tan lines”? | NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
😎 These tan lines feature bright tendrils and swirls amid darkened areas. They are caused by the Sun. However, this is only half of the story. These space weathered patches also give us clues as to what is going on below the lunar surface.
Reiner Gamma is a geographical feature of the Moon known as a lunar swirl. It is one of the most visible lunar swirls from Earth, visible from most telescopes.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has made a 3-D map of the Moon's surface at 100-meter resolution and 98.2% coverage (excluding polar areas in deep shadow), including 0.5-meter resolution images of Apollo landing sites.
LRO has been studying the Moon from up close since 2009, making it the longest-lived lunar orbiting mission ever. The orbiter has mapped the Moon’s surface and measured its temperature, composition, and radiation environment in unprecedented detail. Data from LRO enables NASA, and our international and commercial partners, to select locations on the lunar surface where spacecraft and astronauts can safely land. The orbiter is also helping NASA identify areas near the Moon’s South Pole with crucial resources like water and extended sunlight that provides power for equipment and supports exploration activities.
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/lro/
Duration: 1 minute, 25 seconds
Release Date: May 21, 2026
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