Astronomy Picture of the Day

SMART-1: Pythagoras Crater


Bild Note: 0 (0 Votes)

⏴ previousBild Upload von 18.02.2016 21:43next ⏵
zorg.ch
#66271 by @ 04.02.2005 00:00 - nach oben -
SMART-1: Pythagoras Crater


Explanation:

Stark shadows show off the central peaks and terraced walls
of 120 kilometer wide
Pythagoras Crater in this
mosaic
of images
from ESA's SMART-1 spacecraft.

Characteristic of large, complex
impact craters on the Moon,
the central uplift was produced by a rebound of
the suddenly molten lunar crust during the violent
impact event.

Propelled by an efficient
ion engine, the innovative SMART-1
spacecraft entered lunar orbit in November
last year after a leisurely 13 month journey from planet Earth.

Now viewing
the lunar surface from an altitude of 1,000 to 5,000 kilometers
SMART-1
(Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology -1)
will spiral closer to
the Moon later this month.




Credit & Copyright