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> Mountains on the Moon

Mountains on the Moon

author: Nasa/GSFC/ASU/ Novapix

reference: a-lun07-00200

Image Size 300 DPI: 14 * 14 cm

Most mountains on the Earth are formed as plates collide and the crust buckles. Not so for the Moon, where mountains are formed as a result of impacts. Images taken looking across the landscape rather than straight down really bring out topography and help us visualize the lunar landscape. However such images can only be taken as the spacecraft rolls to the side, in this case about 70°, so the opportunities are limited. Foreground is about 15 km wide, view is northeast across the north rim of Cabeus crater. Cabeus crater is relatively old, 100 km in diameter, and contains significant areas of permanent shadow. Such regions are of great interest because they may harbor significant deposits of ices (water, methane, etc). Image taken by the LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) spacecraft.

Keywords for this photo:

2009 - ASTRONOMY - CABEUS - CRATER - ICE - IMPACT CRATER - LRO - LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER - MOON - MOUNTAIN - SATELLITE - SHADOW - SOUTH POLE -