Ancient Multiring Basins on the Moon Revealed by Clementine Laser Altimetry
Analysis of laser altimetry data from Clementine has confirmed and extended our knowledge of nearly obliterated multiring basins on the moon. These basins were formed during the early bombardment phase of lunar history, have been filled to varying degrees by mare lavas and regional ejecta blankets,...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.266.5192.1848 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.266.5192.1848 |
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craaas:10.1126/science.266.5192.1848 2024-09-15T18:36:45+00:00 Ancient Multiring Basins on the Moon Revealed by Clementine Laser Altimetry Spudis, Paul D. Gillis, Jeffrey J. Reisse, Robert A. 1994 http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.266.5192.1848 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.266.5192.1848 en eng American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science volume 266, issue 5192, page 1848-1851 ISSN 0036-8075 1095-9203 journal-article 1994 craaas https://doi.org/10.1126/science.266.5192.1848 2024-08-29T04:01:04Z Analysis of laser altimetry data from Clementine has confirmed and extended our knowledge of nearly obliterated multiring basins on the moon. These basins were formed during the early bombardment phase of lunar history, have been filled to varying degrees by mare lavas and regional ejecta blankets, and have been degraded by the superposition of large impact craters. The Mendel-Rydberg Basin, a degraded three-ring feature over 600 kilometers in diameter on the lunar western limb, is about 6 kilometers deep from rim to floor, only slightly less deep than the nearby younger and much better preserved Orientale Basin (8 kilometers deep). The South Pole—Aitken Basin, the oldest discernible impact feature on the moon, is revealed as a basin 2500 kilometers in diameter with an average depth of more than 13 kilometers, rim crest to floor. This feature is the largest, deepest impact crater yet discovered in the solar system. Several additional depressions seen in the data may represent previously unmapped ancient impact basins. Article in Journal/Newspaper South pole AAAS Resource Center (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Science 266 5192 1848 1851 |
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AAAS Resource Center (American Association for the Advancement of Science) |
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craaas |
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English |
description |
Analysis of laser altimetry data from Clementine has confirmed and extended our knowledge of nearly obliterated multiring basins on the moon. These basins were formed during the early bombardment phase of lunar history, have been filled to varying degrees by mare lavas and regional ejecta blankets, and have been degraded by the superposition of large impact craters. The Mendel-Rydberg Basin, a degraded three-ring feature over 600 kilometers in diameter on the lunar western limb, is about 6 kilometers deep from rim to floor, only slightly less deep than the nearby younger and much better preserved Orientale Basin (8 kilometers deep). The South Pole—Aitken Basin, the oldest discernible impact feature on the moon, is revealed as a basin 2500 kilometers in diameter with an average depth of more than 13 kilometers, rim crest to floor. This feature is the largest, deepest impact crater yet discovered in the solar system. Several additional depressions seen in the data may represent previously unmapped ancient impact basins. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Spudis, Paul D. Gillis, Jeffrey J. Reisse, Robert A. |
spellingShingle |
Spudis, Paul D. Gillis, Jeffrey J. Reisse, Robert A. Ancient Multiring Basins on the Moon Revealed by Clementine Laser Altimetry |
author_facet |
Spudis, Paul D. Gillis, Jeffrey J. Reisse, Robert A. |
author_sort |
Spudis, Paul D. |
title |
Ancient Multiring Basins on the Moon Revealed by Clementine Laser Altimetry |
title_short |
Ancient Multiring Basins on the Moon Revealed by Clementine Laser Altimetry |
title_full |
Ancient Multiring Basins on the Moon Revealed by Clementine Laser Altimetry |
title_fullStr |
Ancient Multiring Basins on the Moon Revealed by Clementine Laser Altimetry |
title_full_unstemmed |
Ancient Multiring Basins on the Moon Revealed by Clementine Laser Altimetry |
title_sort |
ancient multiring basins on the moon revealed by clementine laser altimetry |
publisher |
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) |
publishDate |
1994 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.266.5192.1848 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.266.5192.1848 |
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South pole |
genre_facet |
South pole |
op_source |
Science volume 266, issue 5192, page 1848-1851 ISSN 0036-8075 1095-9203 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.266.5192.1848 |
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Science |
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266 |
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5192 |
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1848 |
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1851 |
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1810480470509486080 |