“Japan just released high-resolution pictures from its Kaguya orbiter, including some that have never been seen before by the public.”

From Victoria Jaggard, National Georgraphic.

The Kaguya (Selene) lunar orbiter, a Japanese spacecraft nicknamed after a legendary moon princess, launched in 2007 carrying two high-definition TV cameras, which it used to capture stunning video and pictures of the lunar surface.

Although the mission ended in 2009, this week the Japanese space agency released the entire haul of digital images captured by Kaguya during its lifetime. Some of the images have never been seen before by the public.

Haunting Pictures Show Earth Rising Over the Moon
Kaguya HDTV Data Publication System