First Solar eclipse captured from Lunar surface - red light galore from Blue ghost 1

[lajoswinkler]

Blue ghost 1, which has landed in Mare crisium, took these amazing photographs of Earth covering Sun. It wasn't a perfect eclipse, but this is the first time we see something like that, and it's so alien. I am looking forward to seeing Solar corona when Sun sets there.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fireflyspace/54385792941/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fireflyspace/54386246629/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fireflyspace/54387002075/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fireflyspace/54386906843/

 

[magnemoe]

Its pretty cool that then the moon get behind the earth the moon turns red, this does not show until the moon is totally hidden by earth as the sunlight refracting by earth atmosphere is just an tiny fraction of that normally hitting it so just.
Now on the moon the observer don't care if other part of the moon still see the sun.  

[lajoswinkler]

  On 3/15/2025 at 8:59 PM, magnemoe said:

Its pretty cool that then the moon get behind the earth the moon turns red, this does not show until the moon is totally hidden by earth as the sunlight refracting by earth atmosphere is just an tiny fraction of that normally hitting it so just.
Now on the moon the observer don't care if other part of the moon still see the sun.  

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Yes, you can't see it because the penumbral part, still massively illuminated, outshines the umbral part. However, if you position yourself  so that something in the distance obscures the glowing sliver, you will be able to see the red umbra pretty easily. Our shining atmosphere, dispersing penumbral moonlight, will still be in the way, but it won't be a big problem.

[lajoswinkler]

Last weekend, Blue ghost 1 has taken photographs of Sun setting.

 

Camera already showed issues with color, which is even more prominent in the last images lander has sent.

What is interesting is the apparent lack of distinct coronal features. It might be the fault of the camera. It might be due to forward scattering of sunlight by electrostatically suspended powder fraction of regolith. It also might be because of corona might have not been especially ravishing at the time when photography was taken. Or a combination of these factors.

Around midnight UTC on 1st of April, Sun will rise again. Perhaps the lander will wake up. No doubt internally damaged, but maybe we will get a beep from it.

[darthgently]

  On 3/22/2025 at 11:42 AM, lajoswinkler said:

Last weekend, Blue ghost 1 has taken photographs of Sun setting.

 

Camera already showed issues with color, which is even more prominent in the last images lander has sent.

What is interesting is the apparent lack of distinct coronal features. It might be the fault of the camera. It might be due to forward scattering of sunlight by electrostatically suspended powder fraction of regolith. It also might be because of corona might have not been especially ravishing at the time when photography was taken. Or a combination of these factors.

Around midnight UTC on 1st of April, Sun will rise again. Perhaps the lander will wake up. No doubt internally damaged, but maybe we will get a beep from it.

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I find it frustrating that we don’t include just enough of an isotope to keep the batteries just warm enough on these landers.  That is the weak spot by orders of magnitude.  Seems like a no brainer

Edited Saturday at 12:40 PM by darthgently

[cubinator]

  On 3/22/2025 at 12:39 PM, darthgently said:

I find it frustrating that we don’t include just enough of an isotope to keep the batteries just warm enough on these landers.  That is the weak spot by orders of magnitude.  Seems like a no brainer

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That's probably a no-brainer right up until you have to have somebody hanging around the thing putting it together for a bunch of time.

[AckSed]

Wasn't there a sort of metal-oxide heating/power unit developed by Masten and then inherited by Astrobotic? Ah here we go:

https://masten.aero/blog/surviving-the-lunar-night-with-mastens-nite-system/

People need to call other people.

[darthgently]

  On 3/22/2025 at 1:19 PM, cubinator said:

That's probably a no-brainer right up until you have to have somebody hanging around the thing putting it together for a bunch of time.

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I do not think it works that way in this age of industrial robotics

[lajoswinkler]

  On 3/22/2025 at 12:39 PM, darthgently said:

I find it frustrating that we don’t include just enough of an isotope to keep the batteries just warm enough on these landers.  That is the weak spot by orders of magnitude.  Seems like a no brainer

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These are too short missions to require something that expensive.

However, for Lunar rovers we could just use polonium-210 like Lunohods used. There is no need to waste huge amounts of money on plutonium-238 for these local missions.

[darthgently]

  On 3/22/2025 at 9:26 PM, lajoswinkler said:

These are too short missions to require something that expensive.

However, for Lunar rovers we could just use polonium-210 like Lunohods used. There is no need to waste huge amounts of money on plutonium-238 for these local missions.

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Well, sure, but if they could survive the lunar night the mission wouldn’t be so short.  A bit of a self fulfilling prophesy.  A cheaper, shorter half-life, isotope could be used as appropriate to the desired duration