Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 03-13-2006 02:35 PM               

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I read here recently that the speed of the Moon's terminator, at the equator, is 9.6 miles/hour. The "terminator" from what I understand is a very distinct line that separates the lunar day and night. The speed of the terminator slows at it approaches the poles.

I find it interesting that the lunar rovers could not have outrun an oncoming terminator.

Noah

Posts: 1316
From: Syracuse, NY
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 03-14-2006 09:15 AM               

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I saw The Terminator, and Arnold could definitely run faster that 9.6 mph.

Your source was fulla hooey on this point.

Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001

posted 03-14-2006 09:52 AM               

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Ha!

I just had a thought: If Arnold had been commander of Apollo 17, what would he have said as he stood on the ladder steps and looked out onto the Moon for the last time before climbing aboard?

Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000

posted 03-14-2006 10:09 AM               

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Scott,

'I'll be back!' (What else?)

Steve

Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001

posted 03-14-2006 10:19 AM               

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quote:

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Originally posted by Steve Procter:
Scott,

'I'll be back!' (What else?)

Steve

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BINGO!

Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003

Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006

Posts: 781
From: California
Registered: Oct 2004

Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001

posted 03-14-2006 10:37 PM               

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quote:

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Originally posted by zee_aladdin:
Will honestly, I think Arnold would've recognized that Congress was going to dump the Moon Program and would've said:

'HASTA LA VISTA BABY !!!'

- Zee

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I forgot about that! Good one, Zee!

Posts: 1316
From: Syracuse, NY
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 03-15-2006 12:17 AM               

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Mensax, I apologize deeply. I only made one stupid joke. It's the OTHER coconuts who hijacked this thread.

Seriously, I don't think the Lunar Terminator moves per se. It's the Moon itself moving; the Lunar Terminator advances.

It would advance more slowly toward - excuse me, around - the poles.

Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001

posted 03-15-2006 08:16 AM               

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Hey, sorry from me too, Noah!

That's an interesting topic you bring up. Someone mentioned recently on cS about research that there may be an ion-induced (due to there being slightly different charges between the day and night lunar surfaces), moving "dust cloud" that follows the terminator as it progresses along the surface. Interesting to know how fast the cloud moves, if it exists. Hey I just thought of a good question to ask Dr. Schmitt during the field trip in April. [BTW, a bit off-topic but I checked online yesterday and for some reason the AAPG Schmitt NASA Field Trip is not yet sold-out, even though a few others are! Hard to believe that. It's #3 here: http://www.aapg.org/houston/fieldtrips00.cfm , $155 total for non-AAPG Members (most of us) and a once-in-lifetime thing IMO.]

On a related topic, isn't there believed to be a lunar feature (a polar hill or mountain) which is perpetually bathed in sunlight? Also, I'm pretty sure there is a different feature (a polar crater) which is perpetually in darkness. I believe NASA searched for evidence of subsurface ice under the floor of that polar crater by impacting it and then studying the debris cloud. I can't recall what came of that project (wasn't it planned for Prospector or Clementine?).

Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 03-15-2006 06:02 PM               

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Come on now guys... no apologies needed... I just threw that bone of information out there... I suppose the phrase "the Terminator" was just too tempting not to bite.

:)

Noah

Posts: 1316
From: Syracuse, NY
Registered: Jan 2005