A Crack in the Moon?

June 04, 2020

 

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Photographer: John Chumack
Summary Author: John Chumack 

Shown above is Rupes Recta (Latin for straight cliff. This Straight Wall is actually a linear, surface fault having a length of 68 miles (110 km), a typical width of between 1.2 and 1.9 miles (2-3 km), and a height ranging from 787 to 984 feet (240–300 m). Although it appears to be a crack in the lunar surface, in actuality the grade of this fault’s slope is relatively shallow.

Birt Crater is the 10.6 mile-wide crater closest to the Straight Wall. It has a smaller crater on its rim known as Birt A. Just west (left) of this crater is another small snake-like canyon feature called Birt Rima - Rille.

Arzachel Crater, the largest crater on this image, upper right of the frame, is 60 miles (96 km) across and 2.2 miles (3.6 km) deep. The rugged central peak of Arzachel is prominent, rising 0.9 miles (1.5 km) above the crater floor. Image captured on April 4, 2020.

Image Details: taken with my Chumack Observatory Lunar Orbiter aka (old orange tube C8 SCT telescope, F6.3; QHY5IIIL 290M Camera. All images processed in Autostakkert3, Registax6, PS CC 2020. FireCapture Ser video files, 600 to 1200 sharpest frames, stacked.