Picture of a bouncing Moon boulder

[pokerfan]

One solitary boulder on the Moon apparently decided to take a little journey. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera captured the track of a bouncing, rolling 9-meter boulder that used to sit along the rim of a crater. From the pristine nature of the tracks, it might seem that the rock may have taken its trip just recently. But with the high resolution capability of the LROC, scientists can see that a few tiny craters are superimposed among the track and therefore post-date the time the boulder traveled. Scientists estimate this track was created 50-100 million years ago.

http://www.universetoday.com/93419/a-bouncing-moon-boulder/

[Soylent Brice]

1. that's pretty rad. n/t

[byronius]

2. Strangely beautiful.

One wonders what the moon will look like after He3 mining begins. And if anyone objects -- who will serve the warrant? Who will enforce it?

Space is the New World.

[tclambert]

3. To the right it looks like another smaller boulder left a track as well.

I see at least 3 craters overlapping the track of the big boulder. 9 meters is about 29.5 feet is about as big as a house.

[Phoonzang]

4. I'm sorry to have to do this...but...

[HopeHoops]

5. Gingrinch plans to put a WalMart next to it an homeless shelter in its path.

[66 dmhlt]

6. At least we know it won't be gathering any moss.

[Solly Mack]

7. Nice

[Motown_Johnny]

8. or Alan Shepard's golf ball

[dmallind]

9. If the probes were raping the moon, is this foreplay instead? nt