Gallery pictures 1
Refer to a modern lunar atlas or the book, [click here], to follow up names and references included in the following descriptions.
An overview of a sector of the southern Moon presents its heavily cratered nature. Some of the more prominent craters are shown in relief e.g. Clavius and Tycho, and some brightly illuminated but visible e.g. the prominent crater chain of Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus and Arzachel.
A wide-angle view of the south eastern Moon picks out another notable crater chain, Catharina, Cyrillus and Theophilus adjacent to the scarp Rupes Altai, which leads to Piccolomini.
Beware of rejecting apparently out-of-focus images. On close inspection some parts may be clear and well-defined. Vallis Rheita, near the bottom of the picture, and its surroundings are quite sharp and worthy of magnification.
A clear view of the Vallis Schröteri is always worth photographing. I’m ever hopeful of capturing a TLP – Transient Lunar Phenomenon in the brightest lunar feature, the Aristarchus crater.
Lots of streaks are visible in this magnified view of the surrounds of Mare Humorum. The domed floor of Mersenius in shadow on the terminator is clearly discernable.
Capturing features smack on the terminator often reveals detail less likely to be seen. Here, the large (160 x 160 kilometres) walled plain J Herschel shows in remarkable relief and reveals much inner structure not normally seen. This presentation of the Jura mountains bordering Mare Imbrium contrasts starkly with its presentation on the terminator to reveal the Jewelled Handle formed by illumination of the top of the mountains whilst the floor of Sinus Iridum is in shadow.
Apollo 15, with its lunar buggy, landed at the foothills of Mount Hadley, and Luna 2 plunged at speed into the surface between Archimedes and Autolycus.
Hansteen and Billy, to the left, are often referred to together because they are close and about the same size. However, they are very easily distinguished. Billy is one of the few very dark and smooth floored craters while Hansteen is light with much floor structure.
The large crater, Schickard, 227 kilometres across, lies on the terminator here with its characteristic dark and light stained floor. The bright rays of Tycho dominate a huge area.
