The Moon’s Craggiest Stretch Comes Into Focus

The New York Times ^ | February 28, 2008 | KENNETH CHANG

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

This map shows the steepness of the terrain in the south polar region of the moon.

In the craggy terrain around the Moon’s south pole, the deepest craters dip 2.5 miles beneath the surface while the peaks reach as high as the highest mountain in North America — a 37,000-foot change of elevation. That’s a bigger swing of topography than exists on the entire surface of Earth.

On Wednesday, NASA released the sharpest-ever radar images of the south polar region, produced by its Goldstone Solar System Radar, located in the Mojave Desert of California.

Some of the crater sides slant at 35 degree angles, and terrain looks much more rugged now compared with earlier, fuzzier images. In its push to return to the Moon, NASA has often talked about the south pole, and the 12-mile-wide Shackleton Crater in particular, as places to explore and perhaps set up a Moon base.

“We now know the south pole has peaks as high as Mount McKinley and crater floors four times deeper than the Grand Canyon,” said Doug Cooke, a deputy associate administrator at NASA. The new data is “not scaring us away,” he said, adding: “It’s intriguing. It’s just enhanced our understanding of it.”

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Video at the NYTimes web site....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Anyone got a ping list....

[Inyo-Mono]

In the craggy terrain around the Moon’s south pole, the deepest craters dip 2.5 miles beneath the surface while the peaks reach as high as the highest mountain in North America — a 37,000-foot change of elevation. That’s a bigger swing of topography than exists on the entire surface of Earth.

Pretty impressive and it makes the 15,000-foot change of elevation here in Inyo County, California seem tame by comparison.

[NormsRevenge]

wow..

the south pole has peaks as high as Mount McKinley and crater floors four times deeper than the Grand Canyon

[G8 Diplomat]

Closer investigation revealed the following:



Signs of bacterial life on the lunar surface have been confirmed.

[G8 Diplomat]

Actually, on second thought, that should’ve been a Dennis Kucinich sign! LOL

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

LOL!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[Sloth]

That’s a bigger swing of topography than exists on the entire surface of Earth.

Makes sense -- Earth has six times the gravity to level things out.

[neb52]

I think Keith? Davis keeps the space ping lists.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks

[Not now, Not ever!]

I think that’s Kevin Davis, check the APOD in search

[Lijahsbubbe]

So it really is made out of green cheese.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Ernest.

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[Marine_Uncle]

Impressive elevation swings.

[neverdem]

BTTT