Thursday, July 18, 2024

The Aristarchus Plateau (all night)

Three prominent craters break up the expanse of Oceanus Procellarum, the widespread dark region on the moon's left-hand side. Large Copernicus is the easternmost of the craters. Its extensive, ragged ray system intermingles with that of the smaller crater Kepler to its southwest. The very bright crater Aristarchus positioned northwest of them occupies the southeastern corner of a diamond-shaped plateau that is one of the most colorful regions on the moon. NASA orbiters have detected high levels of radioactive radon there. Use a telescope and high magnification to view features like the large, sinuous
rille named Vallis Schroteri. Its snake-like form begins between Aristarchus and next-door Herodotus and meanders across the plateau.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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