March 7, 2004

Color Moon Map

Image Credit: Filipe Alves

Color Moon Map The Jan 28 ["../01/LPOD-2004-01-28.htm" LPOD] astonished many observers with its detailed color rendition of the Full Moon. Now that imager, Filipe Alves, has used advanced computer manipulation to create a Mercator-like projection color image of the Moon - the first I know of. This is a level of sophistication that is new to amateur Moon mapping. Here is what the color key at the bottom right says. Left column: Mare- basaltic zones: top gold button = metal poor basalts Ti <2% wt, Fe <15%. Second purple button = metal rich basalts Ti >3%, Fe >15%, Th <6 ppm. Third blue button = metal rich basalts Ti >7%, Fe >15%, Th <4 ppm. The right hand column is labeled Continental zones: top white button = recent impact ejecta, 2nd gray button: continental platform - basin ejecta. Bottom brown button = volcanic origin zones (?). Knowing the difficulty that professional astronomers have in calibrating their images to derive elemental abundances I assume that Filipe has simply calibrated his image against published images such as the map made from the Galileo flyby. Click the image above for a larger view of Filipe's wonderful map. Related Links: UV Projections Calibrating lunar images Tomorrow's LPOD: Sunset Over Clavius

Author & Editor: Charles A. Wood Technical Consultant: Anthony Ayiomamitis A service of: ObservingTheSky.Org Visit these other PODs: Astronomy | Mars | Earth

 

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