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Volcanism posts 82
Bulls-Eye Crater or Volcanic Vent?

Bulls-Eye Crater or Volcanic Vent?

A circular depression (700 m diameter) sits atop of a circular mound 3.7 km in diameter. It is either a perfectly placed impact crater on the hill's summit, or a volcanic vent. LROC NAC M181173832LR [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 25 Jul 2012

Inside Hyginus Crater

Inside Hyginus Crater

Collapse features within Hyginus Crater. LROC NAC image M104476560L, 1240 m wide [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 12 Jun 2012

View From The Other Side

View From The Other Side

Summit of Tycho crater central peak seen from west-to-east; the rough material on the floor of the crater in the upper right formed as a massive pool of impact melt solidified. LROC NAC M181286769L,R [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 21 May 2012

Orion, Up Close

Orion, Up Close

Low orbit view of Apollo 16 landing site, image width 250 meters, M175179080 [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 23 Apr 2012

 Mare Crisium: Failure then Success

Mare Crisium: Failure then Success

Luna 24 landed on the northwestern rim of a 64 m diameter impact crater, on the volcanic plains of Mare Crisium. Enlargement of lander at lower left, NAC M174868307L [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 16 Mar 2012

Shield Volcanoes in Lacus Veris!

Shield Volcanoes in Lacus Veris!

Wrinkle-ridges in mare basalts? Nope! These step-like features are located on the flanks of a shield volcano! Down-slope to the lower right, LROC NAC image M166406436R, image width is 728 m [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 02 Feb 2012

Brayley G

Brayley G

This small crater is perched on the edge of something much more extraordinary. Read on to discover more! LROC NAC frame M175515801L, 30 cm pixel scale, image is 300 meters across [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 24 Jan 2012

Just Another Crater?

Just Another Crater?

Not ordinary - amazing! What makes this 110 meter diameter crater stand out from the rest? LROC NAC M175077349L, 225 meters wide, 25 cm pixel scale, north is up [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 12 Dec 2011

Farside Highlands Volcanism!

Farside Highlands Volcanism!

Small dome in the Compton-Belkovich region (61.33 °N, 99.68 °E). Evidence indicates a volcanic origin for this and other intriguing features in the region. Incidence angle is 64°, Sun is from the SSW, image is ~510 m across. NAC image...

Published on 25 Jul 2011

Another small volcano?

Another small volcano?

Along the embayed Eddington crater rim is an ~1.5 km dome that may be an ancient volcano with a summit pit crater. LROC NAC M148618400R, image width is 960 m [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 27 Apr 2011

Rille in Aitken Crater!

Rille in Aitken Crater!

The beginning, or end, of a short rille in Aitken crater. This rille is 5 km long and 600 m wide. LROC NAC M149391207, image width is 900 m [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 27 Jan 2011

Smooth floor in Copernicus crater

Smooth floor in Copernicus crater

With the exception of recent impacts (such as this one) into the floor material of Copernicus, much of the northwestern floor of Copernicus appears smooth and relatively featureless (upper right corner). This region on the crater floor...

Published on 29 Sep 2010

Volcanoes in Lacus Mortis

Volcanoes in Lacus Mortis

Most of the craters on the Moon formed through impact processes. However, some craters, like the one visible in this portion of LROC NAC frame M131488521R, may be a volcano summit pit crater. Crater diameter is ~400 m, the image width...

Published on 10 Aug 2010

A Dark Cascade at Sulpicius Gallus

A Dark Cascade at Sulpicius Gallus

LROC NAC close-up of the wall of a suspected volcanic vent within the regional pyroclastic deposit near Sulpicius Gallus. Image M124505982R, view is 517 m across [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Published on 22 Jul 2010

Marius Hills Constellation region of interest

Marius Hills Constellation region of interest

Rim of a large sinuous rille on the western edge of the Marius Hills Constellation region of interest, showing materials that have slumped into the bottom of the sinuous rille towards the northwest as well as (possibly) outcrop, a prime...

Published on 01 Jun 2010

Craters on the Schrodinger pyroclastic cone

Craters on the Schrodinger pyroclastic cone

LROC NAC closeup clustered craters on the Schrodinger pyroclastic cone, one of the NASA Constellation regions of interest. Although likely relatively young, the craters in this cluster have a subdued appearance because they formed in...

Published on 22 Apr 2010

Hortensius Domes - Constellation Region of Interest

Hortensius Domes - Constellation Region of Interest

Summit crater of Hortensius Dome Phi. Summit craters of all the Hortensius Domes show no raised rims and are not circular, indicating they are not impact craters, rather that they are analogous to volcanic calderas. Image width 1.22 km,...

Published on 01 Apr 2010

Apollo Basin: Mare in a Sea of Highlands

Apollo Basin: Mare in a Sea of Highlands

High resolution LROC image of floor of the Apollo Basin, a large (538 km diameter) double-ringed impact crater in the southern hemisphere of the far side. This image shows part of the boundary between  two flow units within the...

Published on 30 Mar 2010

Two-toned Impact Crater in Balmer Basin: A Reflection of the Target?

Two-toned Impact Crater in Balmer Basin: A Reflection of the Target?

Materials excavated during formation of this ~450 m diameter impact crater have an unusual two-toned character, likely a reflection of heterogeneity in the target materials. This crater occurs in Balmer Basin, an area thought to harbor...

Published on 26 Mar 2010

Marius Hills Pit - Lava Tube Skylight?

Marius Hills Pit - Lava Tube Skylight?

The Marius Hills pit is a possible skylight in a lava tube in an ancient volcanic region of the Moon called the Marius Hills. This LROC image is the highest resolution image of the pit to date. Image width is 1400 meters, NAC...

Published on 01 Mar 2010