Lunar Day Twenty-Four

Abstract

Tonight we will work in the south and start by identifying the long narrow ellipse of crater Schiller (Figs. 25.1 and 25.2). Moon walk south along the terminator and look for a line of four prominent craters. Their interiors may be black, but the southeast walls will be brilliantly illuminated. The most striking of this quartet is Zucchius and depending on libration may be very shadowed. To its east is Bettinus, and at power you will see central peaks in both craters. Further southeast is Kirchner and to its east is the very old Wilson. Just north of Bettinus and - at an angle to Zucchius - you will see a strange, walled, V-shaped area curving back to Schiller. This odd area is one of the Moon’s older surface features. An eon or two ago, this was part of a much larger structure which can be traced here and there amidst later forming craters. Since all that is now left is some hills and ridges, no one is certain if the area formed geologically or was caused by an impact.