An Unusual View of a Lunar Limb

March 20, 2004

[javascript:;" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('main_image',,'images/LPOD-2004-03-20b.jpeg',1)" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore() <IMG SRC="images/LPOD-2004-03-20.jpeg" NAME="main_image" width="569" height="425" border="0">]

Image Credit: Galileo, Dec 8, 1990

An Unusual View of a Lunar Limb

As the Galileo spacecraft swung by the Earth-Moon system to get a gravitational boost for its long trip to Jupiter, it imaged the Moon. Most attention was focused on the Full Moon view of [LPOD-2004-03-18.htm Mare Orientale], visible at top right. No one seems to have paid much attention to the craters along the limb and terminator at the bottom of the image. I find it fascinating to try to identify familiar features when seen with a strange perspective like this. You try. In particular, see if you can figure out the name of the large crater at bottom right, or the brighter rimmed one a little further up along the limb. Move your mouse over the image for the surprising identifications.

Related Links:
South Polar Wilderness

Tomorrow's LPOD: Fold A Moon

Author & Editor:
Charles A. Wood

Technical Consultant:
Anthony Ayiomamitis

Contact Webmaster

A service of:
<a class="one" href="http://www.observingthesky.org/">ObservingTheSky.Org</a>

Visit these other PODs:
<a class="one" href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html">Astronomy</a> | <a class="one" href="http://www.msss.com/">Mars</a> | <a class="one" href="http://epod.usra.edu/">Earth</a>

COMMENTS?

Click on this icon File:PostIcon.jpg at the upper right to post a comment.

March 20, 2004

An Unusual View of a Lunar Limb