March 22, 2015

Fold a Moon

Originally published March 21, 2004

Image Credit: Calvin J. Hamilton

Fold a Moon Is it a globe if it has 20 sides? Not really, but its close enough to be a useful 3-D rendition of the Moon. Go to Calvin Hamilton's web site to download a larger version of this image, and then with, scissors, glue or two-side tape, fold yourself a Moon. Although your Moon will be only 2.75" across, it is large enough to see relationships you miss on a flat map. In fact, even on the unfolded version above you can see that the biggest arc on the Moon isn't the Apennine or Altai mountains, its the shoreline of Oceanus Procellarum. In fact, two scientists independently proposed that Procellarum fills the western half of the Moon's oldest and largest impact basin - Gargantuan. The eastern side of the basin has been disfigured by later forming Imbrium and Serenitatis, but traces of its rim are visible from Sinus Medii to Julius Caesar. Twirl your globe around to look for other surprises! Or revisit the web site to download globes of other planets and moons - you can make your own miniature solar system. And these would be great activities for kids! Technical Details: This image is based on the US Geological Survey artistic depiction of the lunar surface, which Calvin Hamilton has replotted to assemble into a folded icosahedron. CAW has darkened and sharpened the image to compensate for reducing the image scale. Related Links: The Moon Yesterday's LPOD: An Unusual View of a Lunar Limb Tomorrow's LPOD: Double Planet

Author & Editor: Charles A. Wood

 

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