[soci]

We already have images from the far side of the moon since the 2009's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter [1].

In theory, LRO is currently flying at lower orbit than Artemis I mission [2]. Shouldn't the LRO images be better? Maybe NASA has not disclosed all images?

Honest question: why the hype with these pictures?

[1] https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4109

[2] Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) -> ~50 km vs. Artemis I -> ~129 km

[syncsynchalt]

It's the difference between buying a postcard of a place you've never been and having a photo you took as a memento.

[pierrec]

They are not shy about publishing LRO data. It looks like this (one for each LRO camera, narrow angle then wide angle):

https://data.lroc.im-ldi.com/lroc/view_lroc/LRO-L-LROC-2-EDR...

https://data.lroc.im-ldi.com/lroc/view_lroc/LRO-L-LROC-2-EDR...

Feel free to assemble these into nice composites or 3D renders.

[nom]

i choose to believe it is done solely to annoy the flat earthers