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Lunar-VISE
@lunarvise.bsky.social
13 followers 6 following 56 posts
Traveling to the Moon's Gruithuisen domes to grow insight on the formation of the lunar surface
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🌕 The Cold Moon makes its appearance tonight! ❄️ As the full Moon that welcomes winter’s arrival, it will glow brightly in December’s chill. Be sure to catch this supermoon lighting up the night sky! ✨

#LunarVISE #Space #FullMoon #ColdMoon #DecemberFullMoon #WinterMoon
A graphic shows a full Moon against a night sky with snowflakes, two snowmen in the bottom right corner, and the title “The Cold Moon” centered on the image. Slide titled “Why Is It Called the Cold Moon,” with blue snowflakes in the background and text explaining that December’s full Moon is called the Cold Moon because it marks the start of winter and some of the coldest temperatures of the year. Slide titled “When Can You View the Cold Moon,” with a blue starry night sky background and text explaining that the Cold Moon will be visible on December 4th as a brighter, larger supermoon, best seen around midnight, and that a supermoon happens when the Moon is closest to Earth.
December 4, 2025 at 10:15 PM
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Meet Dr. Margaret Landis! 👋 A Lunar-VISE Co-Investigator, she’s helping find the safest spots to land and drive our rover. 🌕 With her expertise in thermal and nuclear remote sensing, she’s uncovering what the Gamma Dome is made of. 🚀

#LunarVISE #Space #Moon #TeamSpotlight
A graphic titled “Member Spotlight: Co-Investigator” features a photo of Dr. Margaret Landis with her name displayed below. Two text bubbles “What is your role within Lunar-VISE?” and Dr. Margaret Landis describing her work finding safe rover sites and using remote sensing to study the Gamma Dome. Two text bubbles “What is your educational background?” and Dr. Margaret Landis describing her degrees in planetary sciences and physics from Arizona universities and her recent move to Arizona State University. Two text bubbles “What are some previous projects you have worked on and other projects you are currently working on?” and Dr. Margaret Landis discussing her work on HiRISE, Diviner, and the Dawn at Ceres mission.
November 24, 2025 at 7:37 PM
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Titled “Lunar Cycles in Farming," an image explaining how farmers historically used the Moon's phases to guide their planting. A starry background with a close-up image of the Moon accompanied by the slides title which reads "The Moon's Influence". Followed by a blurb reflecting on the Moons impact on agriculture and Space research as a whole.
November 20, 2025 at 3:20 PM
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The Moon has guided farming for centuries, though scientists still debate its effects on crop growth 🌱🌾. From traditional practices to modern research, the Moon’s cycles continue to influence agriculture and inspire new discoveries.

#HarvestAfterglow #LunarVISE #SpaceToSoil
A fall mountain background with trees, a cottage and forest, and the title “Harvest Afterglow The Moon & Crop Science” in bold white text. A farmer working in a field under a bright full Moon, accompanied by the slide title “Farmers by Moonlight” with a brief blurb explaining how farmers historically used moonlight to guide harvesting. A starry background with a graphic of photoperiodism accompanied by the slide title "Moonlight & Plants" with a brief blurb explaining the Moons role in shaping plant growth. An aerial view of a field accompanied by the slide title “Satellites See the Glow” with a brief blurb explaining how satellites capture crop health.
November 20, 2025 at 3:18 PM
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🚀 A giant leap for Blue Origin and a big step toward Mars. New Glenn NG-2 is ready to launch NASA’s ESCAPADE mission. 🔭

#RocketLaunch #NewGlenn #BlueOrigin #MarsMission #ESCAPADE #MarsAtmosphere #SpaceExploration #NASAMission #CapeCanaveral #LaunchDay
Title slide with the words "Blue Origin New Glenn NG-2" on the left side of the slide. The background is a photo of the New Glenn rocket on a launch pad. An explanation of the what, who, when, and why of the launch.
November 7, 2025 at 7:47 PM
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We're live now! 💻 Visit our website to explore the science and team behind the Lunar-VISE payload, our journey to investigate the Moon’s silicic volcanism and its geologic past. 🌕

Link: sciences.ucf.edu/lunarvise/

#LunarVISE #Moon #LunarScience #LunarExploration #MoonResearch
An image announcing the launch of the Lunar-VISE website.
November 7, 2025 at 7:21 PM
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🌕 The November Beaver Moon rises tonight! As the final leaves fall and frost begins to form (well, maybe not here in Florida), tonight’s full Moon marks the shift toward winter. Step outside, look up, and take in its bright autumn glow! 🍂

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon
“The Beaver Moon” graphic with a full Moon and a beaver silhouette in the lower left corner. Graphic explaining that November’s Beaver Moon is named for the time when beavers build their dams and lodges before winter. Graphic showing that the Beaver Moon will appear on November 5th, best viewed around midnight under a bright night sky.
November 5, 2025 at 9:31 PM
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October 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
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🌑 Ever wonder why the Moon sometimes disappears?

That’s the New Moon, the start of a fresh lunar cycle when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, hiding its light from our view. You won’t see it in the sky, but it’s a powerful moment astronomically and energetically.🌌
A starry background with stars, trees, and people with the title “What happens during a New Moon?” in bold white text. "What actually happens in the sky?" A graphic of the Sun, Moon, and Earth orientation during New Moon. Followed by text explaining position of the Sun, Earth, and Moon during the new Moon phase. A solid black background with the title "Why New Moons Matter". Followed by a graphic of spring tides and how they form and text explaining why New Moons are so important. A solid black background with a Calendar marked with a circle on the 20th of November and the title that reads "When is the next New Moon?" Followed by text explaining when the next New Moon is and how people can see it!
October 28, 2025 at 2:15 PM
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Introducing Dr. Jessica Sunshine! 👋 As Lunar-VISE’s Co-Investigator and LV-VIC Instrument Scientist, she’s making sure our multispectral camera gets all the data we need. 🌕 🚀

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #Gruithuisen #GruithuisenDomes
Graphic titled “Member Spotlight: Co-Investigator and LV-VIC Instrument Scientist” with a photo of Dr. Jessica Sunshine. Below is the text "Dr. Jessica Sunshine." A yellow speech bubble asks, “What is your role within Lunar-VISE?” A second yellow speech bubble answers: “I am a Co-Investigator as well as an LV-VIC Instrument Scientist. As a CO-I, I am part of the LV science team and as the VIC Instrument Scientist I work to make sure we get the data we need from the multispectral camera. That started with the proposal and design of the instrument and has included the testing and calibration in the laboratory and we are now working on the plan for taking data when we get to the Moon.” A yellow speech bubble asks, “What is your educational background?” The reply in another yellow bubble reads: “I have a PhD and ScM in Geology Sciences, and a ScB in Applied Mathematics all from Brown University.” A yellow speech bubble asks, “What are some previous projects you have worked on and other projects you are currently working on?” A second yellow speech bubble responds: “I am currently also part of the Lucy mission to explore the Trojan asteroids. My past roles include Deputy PI for the Deep Impact eXtended Investigation to comet Hartley 2, Co-Investigator for the Deep Impact and Stardust NExTmissions, including a planetary scale impact experiment, to comet Tempel 1, and Participating Scientist for the Dawn Mission to asteroid Vesta. In addition, I was Co-I for the Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument and the DART asteroid impact mission. I was also the Principal Investigator for the Comet Hopper mission, a finalist in the 2012 Discovery mission selection.”
October 21, 2025 at 3:38 PM
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An image of Mareta West with text describing her role during the Apollo era as well as the connection Mareta has to the Lunar-VISE mission.
October 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
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💥🌙 Did you know the Moon is covered in craters because it has no air, water, or weather to erase them? Unlike Earth where wind, water, and even plants smooth things over the Moon keeps its cosmic scars forever.

#SpaceScience #MoonFacts #STEM #Craters #Lunar-VISE
A starry background with astronauts, the American flag, and the title “How Do Craters Form on the Moon?” in bold white text. A close-up of the Moon’s surface covered in craters with the title "What are Lunar Craters?" explaining how they form from asteroid and comet impacts. An image of a meteoroid striking the Moon, sending dust and debris outward with text describing the impact process and how craters form. A NASA image of Tycho Crater displays its bright rays stretching across the lunar surface. The text highlights that Tycho spans 85 kilometers and is easily visible from Earth, marking one of the Moon’s most striking features.
October 10, 2025 at 8:52 PM
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The 2025 World Space Week Expo is happening at Kennedy Space Center! 🚀

📍 October 10 · Space Shuttle Atlantis®

🎟️ Included with admission

🌌 Explore exhibits, meet industry leaders, and celebrate science and technology in space.
Photo of the Space Shuttle Atlantis displayed at Kennedy Space Center. Titled "Kennedy Space Center's World Space Week Expo." An overview of the event: "World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, recognized annually in over 90 countries. The Expo at Kennedy Space Center is part of this global effort to highlight how advancements in space science and exploration improve life on Earth and inspire the next generation of innovators. Visitors will experience interactive exhibits, hands-on learning stations hosted by the Kennedy Space Center Education team, and displays from leading aerospace organizations, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Airbus, Redwire, and United Launch Alliance. A special highlight of this year’s program is the Lunar Outpost Eagle Lunar Terrain Vehicle, which will be showcased from October 2–10 inside Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex." More details about the event: "The World Space Week Expo will take place on Friday, October 10, 2025, on the bottom floor of the Space Shuttle Atlantis® exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Admission to the Expo is included with a regular ticket, which can be purchased in advance through the official Kennedy Space Center website. The event is designed for guests of all ages, providing opportunities to learn about current and future space technology, connect with experts, and gain a deeper understanding of how space exploration shapes our world today and tomorrow."
October 9, 2025 at 12:53 PM
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🌕 The Harvest Moon arrives on October 6th! 🍂 As the full Moon closest to the fall equinox, it shines bright to mark the peak of autumn’s harvest season. Don’t miss this supermoon lighting up the night sky! ✨

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #FullMoon #HarvestMoon
Full Moon graphic with fall leaves bordering the top and bottom of the page. The title "The Harvest Moon" is centered on the page. Titled "Why is it called the Harvest Moon?" with the answer "The October full Moon is called the Harvest Moon because it is a peak time for fall harvesting before winter. The full Moon closest to the fall equinox gets the Harvest Moon name. This year the October full Moon is closest!" Titled "When can you view the Harvest Moon?" with the answer "The Harvest Moon will illuminate the night sky on October 6th. This full Moon is a supermoon and will be visible throughout the evening, with optimal viewing conditions anticipated around midnight. A supermoon is a full Moon that looks bigger and brighter in the night sky. This happens when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit."
October 3, 2025 at 7:37 PM
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Meet Dr. Prateek Tripathi! 👋 He uses FTIR and ASD spectrometers to study lunar materials and build spectral libraries. By pairing these with remote sensing data, he’s helping shape the science behind Lunar-VISE. 🌙

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #Gruithuisen
Graphic titled “Postdoctoral Scholar” with a professional headshot of Dr. Prateek Tripathi. Below the image is the text “Dr. Prateek Tripathi.” A neon green speech bubble asks, “What is your role within Lunar-VISE?” A second neon green speech bubble answers: “I am one of the Lunar-VISE postdoctoral scholars. My role on the team includes working with FTIR and ASD spectrometers to build spectral libraries of materials and process lunar remote sensing datasets relevant to the Lunar-VISE mission.” A neon green speech bubble asks, “What is your educational background?” The reply in another neon green bubble reads: “I have a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication from ITM Universe, Gwalior, and a master’s in Remote Sensing and GIS from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing a unit of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). I completed my PhD in Geomatics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India.” A neon green speech bubble asks, “What are some previous projects you have worked on and other projects you are currently working on?” A second neon green speech bubble responds: “During my Ph.D. at IIT Roorkee, I integrated near-infrared, thermal, and Raman spectroscopy with hyperspectral imaging for mineral characterization in support of lunar exploration. I analyzed DESIS and PRISMA datasets for planetary surface analogs and gained lunar research experience as a visiting researcher at DLR Berlin and exploration intern at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, contributing to Artemis traverse planning. Fieldwork at India’s Dhala and Ramgarh impact craters, including sampling and UAV surveys, provided valuable analog insights for Lunar-VISE.”
September 15, 2025 at 1:01 PM
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🌕 The Corn Moon will rise this Saturday, September 7! 🌽 Its name comes from the traditional harvest season, when corn was gathered at summer’s end. Don’t miss the chance to step outside and catch its glow! ✨

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #FullMoon #CornMoon
Full Moon graphic with corn stalks coming up from the bottom of the page and titled "The Corn Moon." Titled ‘Why is it called the Corn Moon?’ with an image of many corn cobs in the background. The text explains that September’s full Moon got the nickname Corn Moon because it aligns with the busy corn harvest. Titled ‘When can you view the Corn Moon?’ with a background of the night sky. The text explains that the Corn Moon will shine on September 7th, visible throughout the evening, with the best viewing time around midnight.
September 5, 2025 at 7:40 PM
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Titled "What Will Lunar-VISE Learn?" with the text "Understanding the interior structure of the Moon helps us understand how it formed and evolved into what we see today. The Gruithuisen Domes are fascinating because they give us hints about the volcanic activity that shaped the Moon's surface over time. By examining these domes, Lunar-VISE hopes to learn about volcanic events from billions of years ago. This information could show important differences between volcanic activity on the Moon and Earth, providing fresh insights into how planets form and evolve!"
August 29, 2025 at 7:11 PM
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✨ We see the Moon every night, but do you know what the Moon is made of? It’s not just rock and dust, and each layer helps us understand the Moon’s history. Swipe to learn more about what the Moon is really made of! 🌔

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #MoonLayers #MoonCrust #MoonMantle
A full Moon graphic with a see-through view of the layers in the top right quadrant of the Moon. Titled "What is the Moon made of?" Titled "Crust" with the text "The crust is the Moon’s outermost layer and is a rocky shell that is primarily made of two rock types – anorthosites and basalts. This is the part of the Moon we can see from Earth. The Moon’s relatively bright regions are called the lunar highlands and are made of anorthosite, which is primarily composed of plagioclase, a relatively iron free silicate mineral. The Moon’s dark regions are called the lunar maria and these volcanic plains are composed of basalts, which are a mixture of silicate minerals including plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine. The crust helps us learn about the history of the Moon and other rocky planets!" Titled "Mantle" with the text "The mantle is the layer just beneath the crust and is the thickest layer of the Moon. The lunar mantle is thought to be composed of iron-bearing silicate minerals olivine and pyroxene, although its exact composition is a mystery! Although mostly solid, the mantle can slowly flow like a thick liquid over geologic timescales (millions and billions of years). This slow movement is known as convection and can lead to moonquakes and volcanism at the lunar surface. Since we do not observe any current volcanic activity on the Moon, the lunar mantle has probably cooled and solidified except for the zone closest to the lunar core." Titled "Core" with the text "The Moon’s core consists of two parts: a solid, mostly iron inner core within a molten outer core. Though primarily made of iron, the core contains some nickel and sulfur as well. The Moon’s core extends about 20 percent of the way from the Moon’s center to its surface―a smaller proportion than in other rocky planets, whose cores can reach up to 50% of their diameters. The relatively small size of the lunar core may be because the Moon’s violent formation left little iron to collect in its center."
August 29, 2025 at 7:11 PM
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Meet Dr. Ben Byron! 👋 As a postdoctoral researcher with Lunar-VISE, Ben analyzes data from both lunar orbital instruments and past rover missions to get us ready for work on the lunar surface. He also develops data processing pipelines to make sure the team’s science runs smoothly.
Graphic titled “Postdoctoral Researcher” with a professional headshot of Ben Byron. Below the image is the text “Dr. Ben Byron.” An orange speech bubble asks, “What is your role within Lunar-VISE?” A second orange speech bubble answers: “I’m a postdoctoral researcher with Lunar-VISE. My role on the team is to analyze orbital data of our planned landing site as well as previous rover datasets at other lunar locations to help prepare for our eventual operations on the lunar surface. I also help with the data processing pipelines for Lunar-VISE.” An orange speech bubble asks, “What is your educational background?” The reply in another orange bubble reads: “ I earned a B.S. in Physics from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Before joining UCF, I was a postdoctoral researcher at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.” An orange speech bubble asks, “What are some previous projects you have worked on and other projects you are currently working on?” A second orange speech bubble responds: “I am a member of the Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) and Diviner Lunar Radiometer instrument teams onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is currently orbiting the Moon. I use data from these instruments to investigate the physical properties of the lunar surface to better understand the formation and evolution of the lunar regolith. I am also a Participating Scientist on the Lucy mission, which is currently in transit to Jupiter and will investigate several of Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids.”
August 27, 2025 at 7:37 PM
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Graphic of the Moon gradually cooling over time with fading magnetic field lines, illustrating how the Moon’s solidifying core shut down the dynamo effect and ended its magnetic field around 3.5 billion years ago. Illustration of a lunar lander and rover at the Gruithuisen Domes, explaining how radiation exposure affects lunar surface materials and influences the design of exploration equipment.
August 1, 2025 at 8:29 PM
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Why doesn’t the Moon have a magnetic field like Earth? 🌑 The answer lies deep in its core and it matters for future missions. Swipe to learn how this impacts lunar exploration and our overall mission!

#LunarMagnetism #PlanetaryDynamo #MoonCore #LunarGeophysics #SpaceScience #MoonFacts
Illustration of the Moon with no visible magnetic field lines, paired with large text asking, “Why does the Moon NOT have a magnetic field?” With magnets in the background. Diagram of Earth’s interior with swirling arrows showing molten core movement, explaining how magnetic fields form through the dynamo effect—something the Moon lacks. Cross-section graphic of the Moon showing a small, mostly solid core with text explaining why the Moon can’t generate a magnetic field. Image of Apollo lunar rock samples with caption noting past magnetism, showing the Moon once had a strong magnetic field created by a temporary molten core dynamo.
August 1, 2025 at 8:28 PM
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Double the meteors, double the magic 🌠✨

The Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids peak July 29–30! Don’t miss this summer sky show!

#MeteorShower #Meteor #Space #SpaceEvents #SouthernDeltaAquariids #AlphaCapricornids #Stargazing #NightSky
July 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
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Graphic for a poster session titled "MER Mini-TES Observations of Disturbed and Undisturbed Soil: Diurnal Temperature Differences and Applications to Lunar-Vise." A headshot of Dr. Benjamin Byron is centered below the title. The session is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23 at 5:00pm MDT in SUB Ballroom C. The background is black with silicate crystalline structures in the corners. Graphic for a poster session titled "Spectral Characterization of Lunar Hydration at the Gruithuisen Domes with the Chandrayaan-2 Imaging Infrared Spectrometer." A headshot of Dr. Prateek Tripathi is centered below the title. The session is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23 at 5:00pm MDT in SUB Ballroom C. The background is black with silicate crystalline structures in the corners and a prism rainbow-colored rover track design in the lower right. Graphic for an oral session titled "Exploring The Origin And Eruption Of Silicic Lunar Volcanic Deposits Through A Terrestrial Analog In Wildcat Hills, Utah." A headshot of Dr. Kristen Bennett is centered below the title. The session is scheduled for Thursday, July 24 1:50pm MDT at SUB Ballroom B. The background is black with silicate crystalline structures in the corners.
July 21, 2025 at 6:34 PM
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Headed to NESF?✨Come say hi! Several members of our team will be presenting and showcasing some exciting work!

#NESF2025 #LunarVISE
Image for the NASA Exploration Science Forum. The text reads: "See us at NASA Exploration Science Forum! University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 22 – 24 July 2025." In the background is a scenic view of desert mountains under a partly cloudy sky. The bottom right corner features the Lunar-VISE logo. Graphic for an oral session titled "Update on the Lunar-VISE Investigation of Mons Gruithuisen Gamma." A headshot of Dr. Kerri Donaldson Hanna is centered below the title. The session is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22 at 2:00pm MDT in SUB Ballroom B. The background is black with silicate crystalline structures in the corners and a prism rainbow-colored rover track design in the lower right. Graphic for an oral session titled "UV-VIS Analysis of Silicic Lunar Red Spots." A headshot of Graduate Student Elena Dolgas is centered below the title. The session is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22 at 5:25pm MDT in SUB Ballroom B. The background is black with silicate crystalline structures in the corners. Graphic for a poster session titled "Spectral and Geochemical Characterization of Field Samples Collected at the Wildcat Hills as Analogs for Lunar Silicic Volcanism." A headshot of Graduate Student Taylor Bourikas is centered below the title. The session is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23 5:00pm MDT at SUB Ballroom C. The background is black with silicate crystalline structures in the corners and a prism rainbow-colored rover track design. in the lower right.
July 21, 2025 at 6:33 PM
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Meet Dr. Brett Denevi! 👋 Brett is a Co-Investigator on Lunar-VISE, working to better understand the regolith properties of the Gruithuisen domes! 🌙

#LunarVISE #UCF #Gruithuisen #GruithuisenDomes #TeamSpotlight #LunarExploration
Graphic titled “Member Spotlight: Co-Investigator” with a photo of Dr. Brett Denevi in a black shirt and jacket. Below the image is the text “Dr. Brett Denevi.” A neon turquoise speech bubble asks, “What is your role within Lunar-VISE?” A second neon turquoise speech bubble answers: “I am a Co-Investigator on Lunar-VISE and I will help work on understanding the regolith properties of the Gruithuisen domes and will contribute to the calibration of the cameras.” A neon turquoise speech bubble asks, “What is your educational background?” The reply in another neon turquoise bubble reads: “I have a B.A. from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii.” A neon turquoise speech bubble asks, “What are some previous projects you have worked on and other projects you are currently working on?” A second neon turquoise speech bubble responds: “I am the Principal Investigator of the Artemis III Geology Team, I work on another CLPS mission called Lunar Vertex, and I work on cameras for two orbital missions – the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera on LRO and ShadowCam on the Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter.”
July 18, 2025 at 7:47 PM