for arini: Moon: A Real Space Oddity

Today the Japan Aerospace Agency (JAXA) and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) released the final images and videos of the Japanese Lunar Explorer KAGUYA HDTV Shots

"KAGUYA (SELENE) Last shots captured by the HDTV

June 19, 2009 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) would like to release the final still images taken by the onboard High Definition Television (HDTV) of the lunar explorer "KAGUYA" just prior to its maneuvered falling to the Moon. The images are attached below. The KAGUYA was launched on September 14, 2007, and was controlled to be dropped to the Moon on June 11, 2009, as its mission was completed.

The series of continued shots was taken with an interval of about one minute by the HDTV (Teltephoto) while the KAGUYA was maneuvered to decrease its altitude toward the impact position (around GILL crater.)"

Here is the stunning high-definition 3D YouTube video:

And just within this past week, Duncan Jones' debut film Moon starring Sam Rockwell was released on a limited basis by Sony Pictures in the US and UK and has already received many very great reviews by several notable film critics.

Here is the official trailer of 'Moon':

Now here is the catch: Almost forty years ago, Duncan Jones' father, the legendary David Bowie, released his first hit single Space Oddity on July 11, 1969. And about a week or so later, Apollo 11 successfully landed on the moon. The BBC featured Space Oddity in its television coverage of the lunar landing.

Here is an excellent live performance video of Space Oddity by David Bowie in Japan at the Tokyo Dome:

What all this means, of course, is that the Moon is a real Space Oddity, indeed.