Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => In the Media... => Topic started by: mickw on Jan 20, 2010, 09:55:16

Title: Crater on the Moon Gets Stunning Close-Up
Post by: mickw on Jan 20, 2010, 09:55:16
New photographs taken by a satellite in orbit around the moon have revealed one of its most prominent craters in a whole new light.

The moon's Tycho Crater, though average in size, is special because it appears to have formed relatively recently. The vast crater still looks pristine in the new images, while older craters are slowly covered by newer impacts as their features are obscured over the years.

Like all the moon's craters, Tycho is thought to have formed when a space rock slammed into the surface. Since the moon lacks Earth's protective atmosphere, which vaporizes small asteroids on collision courses, even tiny rocks can make a dent on the lunar surface.

More:  Tycho  (http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/moon-tycho-crater-100119.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+spaceheadlines+%28SPACE.com+Headline+Feed%29)

*Nice pic but some of the facts are flawed*