Photos indicate that most of the American flags left on the moon by Apollo astronauts still stand.

Photos taken by a Nasa lunar orbiter show that most of the American flags planted on the moon by Apollo astronauts are still standing. Astronauts on all Apollo moon landings unfurled and planted flags into the soil. Scientists examining photos of the landing sites have seen glints of light from the flags, but this was not considered proof. Now researchers looking at pictures taken of the same spot at different times of day have observed shadows circling the point where the flags are located. Mark Robinson, chief scientist for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera project, said he was surprised the flags survived such harsh conditions.