Saturday, June 15, 2024

Mare Imbrium Mountains (evening)

Saturday, June 15 will offer a fine opportunity to view the spectacular, mountain chains, actually segments of the old basin rim, that encircle the rim of Mare Imbrium. The most northerly arc of mountains is the Lunar Alps, or Montes Alpes. Binoculars or a telescope will reveal a slash cutting through them called the Alpine Valley, or Vallis Alpes, where the moon's crust has dropped between parallel faults. To the lower right (lunar southeast) of the Alps are the Caucasus Mountains, or Montes Caucasus. That mountain range disappears under a lava-flooded zone connecting Mare Imbrium with Mare Serenitatis to the southeast. The southeastern edge of Mare Imbrium is bordered by the lengthy Apennine Mountains, or Montes Apenninus. They sink out of sight near the prominent crater Eratosthenes. The Montes Carpatus ring the south, near crater Copernicus. On the opposite side of the mare is the distinctive, round Sinus Iridum, the Bay of Rainbows.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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* Origin: CJ's Place, Orange City FL > cjsplace.thruhere.net (21:2/156)