The Lunar Far Side as Seen by the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter

Topography data from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter reveal a violent impact history on the far side of the Moon. Scientists are using LOLA data to identify and map the distribution of impact craters and basins on the lunar surface, which in turn reveals information about the age of the lunar crust and early bombardment of the Solar System.

Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

For more information visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/multimedia/lroimages/lola-20100312-farside.html