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At least 55 records · Page 3

Discovery of multi-ring basins - Gestalt perception in planetary science

Early selenographers resolved individual structural components of multi-ring basin systems but missed the underlying large-scale multi-ring basin patterns. The recognition of multi-ring basins as a general class of planetary features can be divided into five steps. Gilbert (1893) took a first step in recognizing radial 'sculpture' around the Imbrium basin system. Several writers through the 1940's rediscovered the radial sculpture and extended this concept by describing concentric rings around several circular maria. Some reminiscences are given about the fourth step - discovery of the Orientale basin and other basin systems by rectified lunar photography at the University of Arizona in 1961-62. Multi-ring basins remained a lunar phenomenon until the fifth step - discovery of similar systems of features on other planets, such as Mars (1972), Mercury (1974), and possibly Callisto and Ganymede (1979). This sequence is an example of gestalt recognition whose implications for scientific research are discussed.

Hartmann, W. K.↗

Regional and Localized Deposits on the Moon

Earth-based telescopic remote sensing studies have provided important information concerning lunar pyroclastic deposits. Combined with the returned lunar sample studies and analyses of lunar photography, we have learned a great deal about the nature and origin of these explosive volcanic materials. Lunar pyroclastic deposits are more numerous, extensive, and widely distributed than previously thought. Two generic classes of lunar pyroclastics have been identified, regional and localized. From the former, two separate spectral compositional groups have been identified; one is dominated by Fe(2+)-bearing glasses, the other is composed of ilmenite-rich black spheres. Comparatively, three separate spectral groups have been identified among the localized deposits: highlands-rich, olivine-rich, and mare-rich. Returned sample studies and the recently collected Galileo and Clementine data also corroborate these findings. Albedo data and multispectral imagery suggest that the thicker core deposits of the regional dark mantle deposits (RDMD) are surrounded by pyroclastic debris and subjacent highlands material. The presence of a major component of pyroclastic debris in the regolith surrounding the core regional deposits has important implications for the resource potential of these materials. Both telescopic and orbital spectra indicate that the regional pyroclastic deposits are rich in iron, titanium and oxygen-bearing minerals. Particle shapes vary from simple glass spheres to compound droplets with quench crystallized textures. Their small grain size and friability make them ideal indigenous feedstock. Compared to other resource feedstock sources on the Moon, these pyroclastic materials may be the best oxygen resource on the Moon.

Coombs, Cassandra R.↗

A Balanced Model for Exploration of the Terrestrial Planets: Lessons from the Lunar Experience

The Moon is the only extraterrestrial rocky body for which we have a combination of surface-selected samples, high-resolution orbital photography (Lunar Orbiter), manned and robotic surface exploration (Surveyor, Apollo, Luna), and global compositional, mineralogical, and geophysical data (Galileo, Clementine, Lunar Prospector). Beginning in 1998, CAPTEM organized a series of workshops and conference sessions aimed at integrating these diverse data sets. The insights gained by bringing together scientists from the remote-sensing and sample-analysis communities have been singularly rewarding. Not least of these has been the recognition by both groups that having both kinds of data maximizes the scientific return and permits reconciling information from diverse scales and perspectives. The 20-20 hindsight of the Lunar experience thus provides important lessons; learning from mistakes as well as successes, we can derive a sensible scientific program for Mars exploration. In this abstract, we describe examples of key information from (a) in-situ geologic investigation, (b) laboratory analysis of returned samples whose geologic context and location are known, and (c) global remote sensing of mineralogy, composition, and geophysical parameters. We then show the value of integrating these diverse data sets.

Jolliff, B. L.↗

Apollo 11 70-mm photographic catalog

Proof prints of virtually all the 70-mm photography exposed during the Apollo 11 mission are presented. The photography has been sorted by magazine and by frame number. The numbering scheme used throughout all Apollo mission is described. The catalog is designed to be used in conjunction with the section on 70-mm photography in Apollo 11 Photography: 70-mm, 16-mm, and 35-mm Frame Index, which provides pertinent information on each frame, and with Apollo Mission 11 Lunar Photography Indexes, which makes it possible to locate the area covered by each frame.

Source record↗

The surface of the moon.

Pictures of moon taken by Ranger, Surveyor and Orbiter spacecraft analyzed for origin, history, libration, temperature and properties

LUNAR PHOTOGRAPHY↗

Interpreting statistics of small lunar craters

Some of the wide variations in the crater-size distributions in lunar photography and in the resulting statistics were interpreted as different degradation rates on different surfaces, different scaling laws in different targets, and a possible population of endogenic craters. These possibilities are reexamined for statistics of 26 different regions. In contrast to most other studies, crater diameters as small as 5 m were measured from enlarged Lunar Orbiter framelets. According to the results of the reported analysis, the different crater distribution types appear to be most consistent with the hypotheses of differential degradation and a superposed crater population. Differential degradation can account for the low level of equilibrium in incompetent materials such as ejecta deposits, mantle deposits, and deep regoliths where scaling law changes and catastrophic processes introduce contradictions with other observations.

Schultz, P. H.↗

Refinement of the Goloseyev catalog point coordinates in the limb zone and determination of point coordinates on the back side of the moon

Lunar photography from Zond 6 showed half the side of the moon which is not visible from the earth, and this made it possible to construct a photogrammetric grid encompassing the entire Western Hemisphere and referenced to points of the visible side, whose coordinates were taken from the Goloseyev catalog. The problem was solved using two pictures taken from approximately 9000 km above the lunar surface. The photogrammetric grid was constructed by joint statistical analysis of the measurements of both pictures and the selenographic coordinates of the catalog points. A special algorithm was developed and a program compiled realizing the maximum likelihood method which permitted working with up to 120 catalog points simultaneously.

Krasikov, V. A.↗

Lunar surface EVA photography of Hadley Rille: Contrast as a constraint

Prior to the Apollo 15 flight, preliminary plans for lunar surface EVA photography of Hadley Rille were examined from the standpoint of expected photographic contrast. Considerable variation in contrast was predicted, resulting in suggestions for specific targets either to be emphasized or ignored at various EVA photo stations. Apollo 15 surface EVA photography appears to have highly satisfactory contrast, generally confirming the predictions. The general technique can be applied to Apollo 16 and 17 photography.

Radin, H. W.↗

LABORATORY. VOLUME I, NUMBERS 12-13

Discussion and photographs of ring structures surrounding lunar basins. evaluation and plates of russian photographs of the moon.

LUNAR PHOTOGRAPHY↗