An Artful Sky over Lofoten Islands

The night sky can be both art and science. It is possible that the featured image is an example. There were 10 landscape and 10 sky images all taken on the same night, from the same location, and with the same camera. The ground surrounding the features has been illuminated. Two months ago, a photographer holding a lamp anchored an amazing view from the rugged lofoten Islands of Norway. There are three prominent arches in the distance, one on the left, another on the right and a third on the right. There is a meteorite in the sky. The stars that compose the Big Dipper are among the skylights.

Page 2

Explanation: Why is the Moon so dusty? On Earth, rocks are weathered by wind and water, creating soil and sand. On the Moon, the history of constant micrometeorite bombardment has 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. Fifty years ago, 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".