Wednesday, March 2, 2011

LROC: Rima Callippus


Rima Callippus in northwest Mare Serenitatis; boulders on the larger branch are possibly an outcrop waiting to be sampled. LROC Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) observation M102078117; LRO Commissioning Phase mission, orbit 221, July 12, 2009: field of view 1600 meters. View the full-sized Featured Image HERE [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Drew Enns
LROC News System

Rima Calippus is a sinuous rille located in northwest Mare Serenitatis at 37° N, 12° E.

Sinuous rilles are thought to be volcanic features carved out by flowing lava. Because the lava is so much hotter than the rock it is flowing on, it will start to cut down and form a channel. If the eruption rate is high enough, the lava can undergo turbulent flow, creating even more efficient thermal erosion and create even deeper channels.


Context image of Rima Callippus within Mare Serenitatis. The large crater in the image is Callippus, namesake of 4th century BC Greek astronomer Callippos. The arrow designates the location of the LROC News System Featured Image, March 1, 2011. Field of view 100 kilometers. View the full-size context image HERE [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Explore all the twists and turns of Rima Callippus in the NAC frame!


Rima Callippus from a vantage point high over central Mare Serenitatis, looking northwest. In the distance Montes Caucasus over 100 kilometers further away, and 6000 meters higher in elevation, are visible. The foreground image, draped over the Google Earth lunar Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is LROC WAC observation M117406911ME, LRO orbit 2436, January 6, 2010 [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].

Related Posts:
Rima Bradley
Rimae Posidonius

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