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Are the American Flags Planted on the Moon by the Apollo Missions Bleached by the Sun?

-- | June 4, 2017

Question: Hi, is it true that the flags put on the moon during the Apollo landings are now bleached from the sun? Can you see the flags with the radio telescopes at the VLA? — Kelly

Answer: A recent analysis of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images of the Apollo landing sites indicates that of the six flags planted on the lunar surface by the Apollo astronauts, three are still standing. As to the status of the color of the flags, this is less clear. Many experts have suggested that the intense ultraviolet radiation exposure that the flags would have endured since deployed would have bleached the colors of the flags. These suggestions have not been confirmed, though. Finally, radio telescopes like the Very Large Array would not be able to see these flags against the background of the lunar surface since these flags are not strong emitters at radio wavelengths.

Jeff Mangum

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