Wrinkle Ridges in Mare Crisium

 Mare Crisium illuminated at a low incident angle and showing the 'wrinkle ridges' in the basaltic lava. - 127mm Apo Refractor at f=900mm. QHY5L-11 Planetary Camera - stacked image from video. - Credit- Kurt Thrust


" Wrinkle ridges are believed to be caused by a mixture of faulting and folding of the mare lava whilst cooling. They are complex geological structural features found in 'lunar seas'. The feature is created by a 'thrust fault' which cuts through the mare but does not break through the surface. The geological fault thrusts material upwards creating a fold in the mare basalt over the fault. The folding gives rise to a considerable variety of wrinkle ridge forms. Despite the variety visible on this Jodrell Plank Observatory image of Mare Crisium every wrinkle ridge is made from a smaller ridge superimposed upon a larger ridge. On a clear night at full Moon, Mare Crisium may be seen with the naked eye but it requires a telescope and a low incident angle of illumination to show the 'wrinkle ridges'. The above image was captured 3 days after new Moon when Mare Crisium was illuminated at a very low incident angle by the Sun ". - Kurt Thrust acting CEO and current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

 

A complex wrinkle ridge in Mare Crisium at low Sun (illumination is from the right). Boulders occupy the tops of mounds on the west ridge, and the central depression is more heavily cratered than the ridge. LROC NAC M146573730RE, image width is 700 m, north is up [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC)

3 Day Old Waxing Moon

The 3 Day old waxing crescent Moon showing the large craters Langrenus, Vendelinus and Petavius. - 127mm Meade Apo Refractor at f=900mm. QHY5L-11 colour planetary camera.Stacked video. - Credit Pip Stakkert.

" The 3 day old Moon illuminates the three large craters; Langrenus, Vendelus and Petavius on Mare Fecundititis". - Kurt Thrust-acting CEO and current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

LANGRENUSL.U.N.: AA0886S06104E
L.U.N.REDUCED: 0886S06104
Name type: AA
Type: Crater
Geological period: Eratosthenian (From -3.2

billions years to -1.1 billions years)

Size:
Dimension: 133.0x133.0Km / 80.0x80.0Mi
Height: 2600.0' / 7900.0ft
Height/Wide ratio: 0.0197

Description:
Circular formation deformed to the South.
Very steep and tormented slopes supporting

Lohse Langrenus C and E to the South

Sommerville to the North-East and Acosta to the

North.
High walls with terraces deformed to the South.
Extensive flat floor more tormented to the

North-West. Double central mountain 1000 m high.

Hills and craterlets.

Observation:
Interest : Exceptional formation
Observation period: 3 days after New

Moon or 2 days after Full Moon
Minimal Instrument: 10x binoculars

Position:
Longitude: 61.038° East
Latitude: 8.860° South
Side: Nearside
Quadrant: South-East
Area: Moon East limb

VENDELINUSL.U.N.: AA1646S06155E
L.U.N.REDUCED: 1646S06155
Name type: AA
Type: Walled plain
Geological period: Pre-Nectarian (From -4.55

billions years to -3.92 billions years)

Size:
Dimension: 147.0x147.0Km / 89.0x89.0Mi

Description:
Circular formation deformed to the North-East.
Slopes crushed by Lohse to the North-West by

Lamé to the North-East by Holden to the South

and supporting Vendelinus F to the South-East.
Few high walls ridden by Vendelinus E to the

South.
Immense flat floor with numerous craterlets

whose Vendelinus H to the North and the trio

Vendelinus L Z & Y to the South. Hills and

crevices.

Observation:
Interest : Very interesting formation
Observation period: 3 days after New

Moon or 2 days after Full Moon
Minimal Instrument: 10x binoculars

Position:
Longitude: 61.546° East
Latitude: 16.458° South
Side: Nearside
Quadrant: South-East
Area: Moon East-South-East limb

PETAVIUSL.U.N.: AA2539S06078E
L.U.N.REDUCED: 2539S06078
Name type: AA
Type: Crater
Geological period: Lower Imbrian (From -3.85

billions years to -3.8 billions years)

Size:
Dimension: 177.0x177.0Km / 107.0x107.0Mi
Height: 3300.0' / 10000.0ft
Height/Wide ratio: 0.0186

Description:
Circular formation situated on the South bank of

Mare Fecunditatis.
Very steep and tormented slopes riddled with

craterlets and supporting Wrottesley to the

North-West Palitzsch Hase & Vallis Palitzsch to

the South-East and Petavius E to the South-West.
High walls with double terraces to the

South-West supporting Petavius C to the South

and a craterlet to the North-West.
Flat floor with Rimae Petavius and Petavius A to

the South-East. Central mountain 1700 m high.

Somber and white spots. Hills and craterlets

Observation:
Interest : Exceptional formation
Observation period: 3 days after New

Moon or 2 days after Full Moon
Minimal Instrument: 10x binoculars

Position:
Longitude: 60.778° East
Latitude: 25.391° South
Side: Nearside
Quadrant: South-East
Area: Mare Fecunditatis South edge

Credit: Virtual Moon Atlas