APOD: Evidence Mounts for Water on the Moon (2010 Apr 01)

[APOD Robot]

Evidence Mounts for Water on the Moon

Explanation: In 2009, space missions revealed tantalizing signs of water on or near the lunar surface, once thought of as a dry and desolate environment. But researchers are now offering this archival picture as further evidence that humans might one day be able to use the Moon's newly discovered resource to directly quench their thirst. Found in a pile of old Apollo lunar surface photographs, the picture reveals an object at the far left of the frame that appears to be a drinking fountain, surprisingly close to one of the Lunar Module landing struts. When asked why no mention of the object was in their reports, the astronauts replied that they discovered their spacesuit gloves were too bulky to allow them to activate the fountain, so they had simply ignored it during their stay on the lunar surface. Perhaps not coincidentally, this picture was taken exactly 40 years ago, on April Fools Day ...

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[bad photoshop]

don't give up your night job

[DonAVP]

AH, That was taken on the lunar set in Hollywood were they staged all of the moon landing TV broadcasts, don't ya know.
Notice how the sand is patterned because of some large light or camera cable. I could go on and on.



OH APRIL FOOL!!

[apolloman]

How could that picture have been taken on 4-01-1970(exactly 40 years ago) since there were no astronauts on the moon on that date. The only Apollo flight in April 1970 was Apollo 13 and of course, it did not land. Just curious.

[Amused]

Apolloman, you are mistaken. Apollo 13 did land. They were on a mission for the CIA and didn't want anyone to know. They fooled EVERYBODY. The truth still hasn't come out even 40 years later. NASA puts out bad Photoshops like this to convince people that they're being honest about everything, and it works!

[CatchDude]

There is no such thing as a 'moon'! (Metamoonhoax)

[CyclingNut]

My wife, who is from Japan, said that despite knowing that US Astronauts landed on the Moon, she really didn't psychologically grasp it as fact until she saw the landing site on the HD video from the Japanese satellite. I told her, "So you could tell it was Americans because there were empty beer cans all over the place and "Neil" written in pee in the soil, right?"

[Dorseyland]

You guys handle magnificent digital images every day and that's the best Photoshopping you can manage?

[neufer]

I believe this to be a hoax!

• 1) Unlike the astronaut, himself, the dark side of the fountain is totally unlit by the bright lunar surface.
  
  2) The fountain can not be seen reflected in the astronaut's face shield.

[emc]

I don’t get it… how do the astronauts drink from the fountain? Is there some sort of Moon water cooler adapter for their spacesuits? Must be, otherwise it doesn’t make sense. I wonder if Moon water has a dusty after taste.

[neufer]

I don’t get it… how do the astronauts drink from the fountain?
Is there some sort of Moon water cooler adapter for their spacesuits?

Flexi-straws:

<<Buzz, the eager elevator operator, pitches a new invention: the flexi-straw. >>

[orin stepanek]

I wonder if Moon water has a dusty after taste.

I don't think it would taste too good; it would probably have that green cheesy taste.

[KrazyKanuck]

Things like this need to be reported accurately in order to prevent chaos among the masses. The picture represents a little known occurrence during Apollo training. The story ran in a small community newspaper in norther Saskatchewan in January of 1966, and was entitled "During Water Break Training Astronauts Discover Lost Moon In Hallway: Name it Janus and Launch it in Orbit Around Saturn." I mean really, how far fetched is a fountain on the moon ...

[Amir]

How could that picture have been taken on 4-01-1970(exactly 40 years ago) since there were no astronauts on the moon on that date. The only Apollo flight in April 1970 was Apollo 13 and of course, it did not land. Just curious.

maybe that also a part that is included in April fool.

[geckzilla]

Seriously, Bob. Next time let me do the Photoshop work.

[biddie67]

(( laughing )) just love it !!!!!!!

[RJN]

This image was sent in to us and Jerry went with it. I thought it timely considering the flood (ha!) of new water reports on the moon. If anyone can do better, APOD may still be on the web next year, so please start photoshopping your sense of humor now. Now that I think of it, this may really be a good contest for those so Asterisked.

[finkledorff]

"So you could tell it was Americans because there were empty beer cans all over the place and "Neil" written in pee in the soil..."

THAT is funny!

[Guest]

I agree with Neufer: There is no reflection of the fountain in the helmet visor so this must be a hoax !!

[orin stepanek]

I bet that water is contaminated with rcoket fuel; I heard they crashed a rocket in it a while back.

[DaveBone]

I heard that they found LGM's (little green microbes) in the water

[enceladus]

That picture is a fake.
For sure.

This is the authentic (missing) picture.
In faith! Real! Genuinely!
http://www.stepload.de/uploads/2gxC5lBg ... index.html

Sorry, but I cannot posting the picture directly, I am probably too stupid…

[Guest]

I can tell its a fake, if you look closely you will notice that the water fountain does not show up in the faceshield of the astronaut being pictured as does everything else in the foreground...

[neufer]

I can tell its a fake, if you look closely you will notice that the water fountain does not show up in the faceshield of the astronaut being pictured as does everything else in the foreground...

Actually the water fountain on the moon is real; it is the astronaut who is photo-shopped in.

[DavidLeodis]

Looks like a fascinatingly shaped stony meteorite to me! If there is water on the Moon the song 'Moon River' may be appropriate! BTW, that is an interestingly shaped boulder to the rear, and what is the bright spot just beyond it