                        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 March 28

                          Lunar Dust and Duct Tape
                        Image Credit: Apollo 17, NASA

   Explanation: Why is the Moon so dusty? On Earth, rocks are weathered by
   wind and water, creating soil and sand. On the Moon, eons of constant
   micrometeorite bombardment have blasted away at the rocky surface
   creating a layer of powdery lunar soil or regolith. For the Apollo
   astronauts and their equipment, the pervasive, fine, gritty dust was
   definitely a problem
   . On the lunar surface in December 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts Harrison
   Schmitt and Eugene Cernan needed to repair one of their rover's fenders
   in an effort to keep the rooster tails of dust away from themselves and
   their gear. This picture reveals the wheel and fender of their dust
   covered rover along with the ingenious application of spare maps,
   clamps, and a grey strip of "duct tape".

    Northern Hemisphere Alert : March 29 Partial Solar Eclipse Tomorrow's
                          picture: pixels in space
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

