December 29, 2015

Scattered Impressions of a Boundary Zone

Originally published February 20, 2005

Image Credit: Alessandro Bares

Scattered Impressions of a Boundary Zone Closeup views of individual features can provide details of their structure and hence clues to their origin and evolution. But wider perspectives of an entire mare basin or region are like a plate of appetizers – offering delectable morsels of a variety of flavors. Mare borders are especially interesting because they contrast the relatively young and smooth with the ancient and rough. Here at the southern shore of Mare Nubium there are many morsels to sample and ponder. The mare is thought to be relatively thin because of the numerous ghost craters and deeply flooded craters (like Kies) that barely emerge from it. Immediately west of Kies is the famous dome with it central pit just visible. The Hesiodus Rille crosses the bottom of Nubium, strangely passes through a narrow highland swath and continues into Palus Epidemiarum. With higher Sun the inner donut of Hesiodus A would be visible, but this image’s low sunset view reveals a delicate light bridge from a low spot in the western rim of Pitatus across to its central peak. The nearby highlands have a roughness due to churning by impact craters of various sizes and ages. An odd feature is the broad and bumpy elevated interior of Wurzelbauer (diameter 88 km) – it looks like confused ejecta from a basin but there is no reasonable source. Another smaller bump (I daren’t call it a dome) with rough texture occurs just to the north in a poorly defined region that could be a highly ruined crater. This little excursion has ranged over only about 400 km but included wonderful tastes of many different types of the lunar cuisine! — Chuck Wood Technical Details: September 30, 2002. Mewlon Takahashi 250 F/12 (FL 3000) + HX516 CCD; single frame. Related Links: Rukl Plates 53, 54 & 63 Yesterday's LPOD: Looking Across Orientale Tomorrow's LPOD: It's Just a Phase

Author & Editor: Charles A. Wood

 

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