Dazzling in binoculars [
http://www.skypub.c…moontour.html ] or a small telescope, the Moon [
http://www.nineplan…] is pocked with impact craters. During partial lunar phases [
http://www.geocitie…], the craters along the terminator are cast in dramatic relief by strong shadows. But when the Moon [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] is full some craters [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] seem to sprout systems of bright radial lines or rays. This detailed [
http://www.galaxyim…] digital [
http://www.galaxyim…] close-up of the full Moon features two prominent ray craters [
http://www.lpi.usra…orbiter-craters.html ], Copernicus (upper left) and Tycho (lower right), each with extensive ray systems of light colored debris blasted out by the crater-forming impacts. In general, ray craters [
http://www.lpi.usra…] are relatively young as their rays overlay the lunar terrain [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…]. In fact, at 85 kilometers wide, Tycho, with its far reaching rays, is the youngest large crater [
http://www.nasm.edu…] on the nearside. Crater Copernicus [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…], surrounded by dark mare which contrast nicely with its bright rays, is 93 kilometers in diameter.
Explanation
Dazzling in binoculars [
http://www.skypub.c…moontour.html ] or a small telescope, the Moon [
http://www.nineplan…] is pocked with impact craters. During partial lunar phases [
http://www.geocitie…], the craters along the terminator are cast in dramatic relief by strong shadows. But when the Moon [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] is full some craters [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] seem to sprout systems of bright radial lines or rays. This detailed [
http://www.galaxyim…] digital [
http://www.galaxyim…] close-up of the full Moon features two prominent ray craters [
http://www.lpi.usra…orbiter-craters.html ], Copernicus (upper left) and Tycho (lower right), each with extensive ray systems of light colored debris blasted out by the crater-forming impacts. In general, ray craters [
http://www.lpi.usra…] are relatively young as their rays overlay the lunar terrain [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…]. In fact, at 85 kilometers wide, Tycho, with its far reaching rays, is the youngest large crater [
http://www.nasm.edu…] on the nearside. Crater Copernicus [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…], surrounded by dark mare which contrast nicely with its bright rays, is 93 kilometers in diameter.
Explanation
