August 13, 2018

Cauchy Times Two

Originally published May 31, 2009
images from USGS Map-A-Planet

Map-A-Planet is a great resource, especially since it makes easy the comparison of a feature in Clementine and Lunar Orbiter IV images. For example, here is the Clementine UV-VIS muliti-spectral image and the LO for the 12 km diameter simple crater Cauchy. Almost no craters smaller than 10 km diameter have central peaks, but in the rise toward 20 diameter, peaks became progressive more abundant in simple craters. When I cataloged Cauchy for the System of Lunar Craters using the best telescopic images, no peak could be detected, but the LO and Clementine clearly reveal two distinct peaklets and smaller hills on its flat floor. As with nearly all simple craters, the inner wall of Cauchy looks like it would be a smooth slide to the floor. There is bright material on the northern rim that has slid downslope, making a bright streak; interestingly the biggest area of bright nimbus surrounding the crater is adjacent to this bright part of the rim. A dark band is visible about 25% of the way down from the rim crest - is this a resistant layer of Tranquillitatis lava? Finally, as seen on the LO image, the western side of Cauchy has two short ridges that intersect the rim in a V pattern. Danny Caes first noticed this wing-like feature. It looks similar to the chevron pattern of ejecta seen at low angle secondary craters. Cauchy is not a secondary, but perhaps it was an oblique impact.

Chuck Wood

Related Links
Rükl plate 36

Yesterday's LPOD: Textured Contrasts

Tomorrow's LPOD: Ejecta Tales

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