Japan Probe Captures Moon in High-Def

Nov. 12, 2007 -- Japan is not the first country to send a spacecraft to the moon, but its efforts could qualify for an Academy Award.

A high-definition television camera on the Selene probe, which entered lunar orbit on Oct. 18, shot surrealistic imagery of the moon's surface as it flew 100 kilometers (62 miles) above the barren and beautiful landscape.

The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, flew the camera in partnership with Japan Broadcasting Corp. Imagery was taken during two passes on Oct. 31.

The first pass covered a region toward the center of the moon's northern pole called Oceanus Procellarum. The second covered the western side of the Oceanus Procellarum from south to north. Both takes compressed eight minutes of flying into one minute of video.

Selene, which is still in its checkout and verification phase, is scheduled to begin its science mission next month.

JAXA says the major goals of the mission are to understand the moon's origin and evolution and to survey lunar resources and environmental phenomena, such as electromagnetic activity and high-energy particles. This information will then help the Japanese prepare for future human missions to the moon.