1973/06/15 by Farouk El‐Baz · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Planetary Science and Exploration #Astro and Planetary Science #Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life #Far side of the Moon #Apollo #Geology #Structural basin #Terrain #Altimeter #Impact crater #Laser #Geodesy #Geomorphology #Astrobiology #Geography #Geophysics #Physics #Optics #Cartography
paper · doi:10.1126/science.180.4091.1173
openalex publication_date 1973/06/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 photographs of the far side of the moon reveal a double-ringed basin 500 kilometers in diameter centered at 1 degrees N, 112 degrees E. The structure is very old and subdued; it is probably Pre-Nectarian in age and appears to have been filled and modified by younger events. The heights of the basin's rings are based on laser altimeter data from Apollo missions 15 through 17; these data suggest a third outer ring, approximately 1000 kilometers in diameter. Laser measurements also indicate that the filled basin separates the relatively low terrain on the eastern limb of the moon from the higher, more rugged highlands to the east.