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Domes of Arago


astroavani

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Domes of Arago
This is the best week for lunar observation, the shadows are long and the formations stand out easily. In this particular photo we can see the domes near Arago.
There are a pair of very large domes, one to the north (Arago Alpha) and one to the west (Arago Beta). These are two of the largest and most prominent domes of the Moon and, halfway between Arago a and the Maclear crater (160 kilometers to the northeast), you will find a challenging group of four smaller domes. It will be a good victory for you, if you can identify them.
The domes or domes, are low and rounded structures, found in areas of mares where formerly the growing magma pushed upwards and caused the lunar surface to jump in bubble-like bumps. Sometimes, the underlying pressure was not enough to cause the magma to break; others, the domes erupted in small, slightly inclined shield volcanoes, and their holes in the summit can actually be seen under low angle lighting as seen here: https://www.astrobin.com/200363/?nc=user
The lunar domes do not attract attention, like the most spectacular craters and mountains, so they are easily ignored, but they are fascinating objects and are worth the effort to look for. As the endogenous theory of crater formation has been widely contested, it is fun to hunt for evidence that there was indeed volcanic activity on the Moon. You will need at least 15 cm of aperture and 150 to 300X power to view most of the domes.
As the lunar progresses, pay attention to the region near the terminator, it is a good challenge to try to identify these formations in addition to being a testament to the good optical quality of your equipment.
Source: Andrew Planck
Adaptation: Avani Soares

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