Look closely at the image below. See a little streak at the center? That is LADEE, in its low orbit around the Moon, photographed by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter on January 15. LADEE was only 9000 meters below, moving in its orbit at 1600 meters per second, while Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter was moving the same speed but in a nearly perpendicular direction. The high relative speeds, plus the particular style in which the camera operates, cause LADEE to appear as a long streak.
Says Emily Lakdawalla (I hope your last name is as fun to say as I always imagine it to be when I read something you write) at http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2014/01291300-ladee-spotted-by-lroc.html along with providing a link with more information.
Originally posted on Google+ · January 29, 2014
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