Pruned: Lunar regolith

More asteromo aftershocks: these microscopic slivers of the moon -- extracted from a report by the Lunar Regolith Materials Workshop, organized by NASA “to establish requirements for the production and distribution of terrestrial analogs of lunar regoliths.”

As luminous on earth as it is in the firmament.

Might we soon expect self-illuminating lunar regolithic hardscaping, ionized and prismatic? A future market in moon pavers irradiated with the solar wind. Mini-auroras in the backyard. That or I'd settle for a sequel to Bedrock: The Film.

More shimmering microscopic moon rocks here.

In the Archives:
“Ground truth”: or, Wanted: Fake Moon Dirt

7 COMMENTS —

Anonymous
February 14, 2006 at 3:54:00 AM CST
amazing shots!
can you explain, what we see at the first photo?

cruelanimal
February 20, 2006 at 6:08:00 PM CST
Thanks for sharing these images. They are stunning and very fractal.

The Pirate
March 2, 2006 at 10:36:00 PM CST
These are truely amazing shots and I have seen most if not all in person during an optical minerology course way back in my distant and receding past. I was the luckiest guy on the planet the day I found a forgotten breifcase from NASA containing a set of hand samples and petromicrographs from our nearest neighbor. it took me 36 hours of pouring over the slides and samples before I finally realized that I should mention my find to the professor and determine why they were collecting dust in case full of spare parts for the microscopes.
Soo, where did you get the images? I would love to have a few of these for old times sake. Can they be found on the NASA website?

Alexander Trevi
March 6, 2006 at 3:06:00 PM CST
moon: From the Lunar Regolith Simulant Materials: Recommendations for Standardization, Production and Usage Final Report [PDF, 8MB], where the images were extracted.

Ilmenite Olivine Basalt 12005
20X, cross polarized light.
Field of view 8 mm long dimension

Sample 12005 is thought to be a lava lake cumulate from the lunar surface. The term cumulate means that settling, floating, or accumulation of crystals has occurred. It is very rich in olivine and pyroxene. Most of the larger oxides and plagioclase are interstitial, having grown in the intercumulus pore spaces. The two largest grains occupying the center are olivine crystals, with tiny, oriented arrays of trapped melt inclusions. Plagioclase is white and pyroxene is brown.

Even the names sound absolutely extraterrestrial.

Alexander Trevi
March 6, 2006 at 3:09:00 PM CST
and bambi: I guess my last comment answers your question. The pdf file mentioned above is linked from this wesbiste.

Anonymous
March 9, 2006 at 1:12:00 PM CST
Alexander, thank you for the explanation, it is truly amazing, actually is like a piece of art.
but there are saying is that the moon consist of material that are known to us on earth? of of the elements you have mentioned are existing on earth as well, how can that be?:)

btw about the "tree of Dianna" that you have mentioned..
do look at this:
those are amazing photos:
http://star.tau.ac.il/~eshel/gallery.html

http://star.tau.ac.il/~eshel/papers/levine_2004.pdf
http://spaces.msn.com/moooonriver/blog/cns!F50083AB13224D70!4649.entry

you were the inspiration for me, and for others in Israel questing it

Anonymous
March 30, 2007 at 11:18:00 PM CDT
Wow! I was looking for lunar sample images, but this article is a wonderful surprise!

Ill have to download that PDF as soon as I get a chance. Thanks!

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	Lunar regolith Tuesday, February 14, 2006 #space More asteromo aftershocks: these microscopic slivers of the moon -- extracted from a report by the Lunar Regolith Materials Workshop, organized by NASA “to establish requirements for the production and distribution of terrestrial analogs of lunar regoliths.” As luminous on earth as it is in the firmament. Might we soon expect self-illuminating lunar regolithic hardscaping, ionized and prismatic? A future market in moon pavers irradiated with the solar wind. Mini-auroras in the backyard. That or I'd settle for a sequel to Bedrock: The Film. More shimmering microscopic moon rocks here. In the Archives: “Ground truth”: or, Wanted: Fake Moon Dirt 7 COMMENTS — Anonymous February 14, 2006 at 3:54:00 AM CST amazing shots! can you explain, what we see at the first photo? cruelanimal February 20, 2006 at 6:08:00 PM CST Thanks for sharing these images. They are stunning and very fractal. The Pirate March 2, 2006 at 10:36:00 PM CST These are truely amazing shots and I have seen most if not all in person during an optical minerology course way back in my distant and receding past. I was the luckiest guy on the planet the day I found a forgotten breifcase from NASA containing a set of hand samples and petromicrographs from our nearest neighbor. it took me 36 hours of pouring over the slides and samples before I finally realized that I should mention my find to the professor and determine why they were collecting dust in case full of spare parts for the microscopes. Soo, where did you get the images? I would love to have a few of these for old times sake. Can they be found on the NASA website? Alexander Trevi March 6, 2006 at 3:06:00 PM CST moon: From the Lunar Regolith Simulant Materials: Recommendations for Standardization, Production and Usage Final Report [PDF, 8MB], where the images were extracted. Ilmenite Olivine Basalt 12005 20X, cross polarized light. Field of view 8 mm long dimension Sample 12005 is thought to be a lava lake cumulate from the lunar surface. The term cumulate means that settling, floating, or accumulation of crystals has occurred. It is very rich in olivine and pyroxene. Most of the larger oxides and plagioclase are interstitial, having grown in the intercumulus pore spaces. The two largest grains occupying the center are olivine crystals, with tiny, oriented arrays of trapped melt inclusions. Plagioclase is white and pyroxene is brown. Even the names sound absolutely extraterrestrial. Alexander Trevi March 6, 2006 at 3:09:00 PM CST and bambi: I guess my last comment answers your question. The pdf file mentioned above is linked from this wesbiste. Anonymous March 9, 2006 at 1:12:00 PM CST Alexander, thank you for the explanation, it is truly amazing, actually is like a piece of art. but there are saying is that the moon consist of material that are known to us on earth? of of the elements you have mentioned are existing on earth as well, how can that be?:) btw about the "tree of Dianna" that you have mentioned.. do look at this: those are amazing photos: http://star.tau.ac.il/~eshel/gallery.html http://star.tau.ac.il/~eshel/papers/levine_2004.pdf http://spaces.msn.com/moooonriver/blog/cns!F50083AB13224D70!4649.entry you were the inspiration for me, and for others in Israel questing it Anonymous March 30, 2007 at 11:18:00 PM CDT Wow! I was looking for lunar sample images, but this article is a wonderful surprise! Ill have to download that PDF as soon as I get a chance. Thanks! Post a Comment — Comments on posts older than a week are moderated — —— Newer Post Older Post —— Home	1