The Messier Craters from a different viewpoint

[John]

I've been observing the moon tonight, like many of us I expect.

The craters Messier and Messier A, with the distinctive comet-type rays extending from the latter, are nicely on show in the Mare Fecunditatis and will be for the next couple of days, clouds allowing. Well worth a look though any telescope.

While finding out more about this interesting pair of craters I came across this fascinating photo in the Internet Archive. It shows the Apollo 16 Lunar Module "Orion" in lunar orbit while it is being inspected from the Command Service Module "Casper", the photo being taken from the latter craft of course. And in the background, on the lunar surface are the craters Messier A and Messier. Not an image that I've seen before.

You can click on the image to see it at a much larger scale and very impressive it is

https://archive.org/details/as16-122-19533

Edited February 28, 2021 by John

[Paz]

That's a great photo, the Messier craters are one of my favourite lunar features.

That lunar module looks like something from the scrap heap challenge tv show!

[niallk]

+1 for favourite lunar features.

Fantastic image! Never seen it before 👍

[maw lod qan]

Yes, incredible image from long ago!

Thanks for posting the link.

Is it just me, or does the one side of the LM look pretty beat up?

I have to think in almost zero gravity on the Moon, that initial jump when the ascent engine fired would be something!

[John]

5 hours ago, maw lod qan said:

Yes, incredible image from long ago!

Thanks for posting the link.

Is it just me, or does the one side of the LM look pretty beat up?

I have to think in almost zero gravity on the Moon, that initial jump when the ascent engine fired would be something!

It is not just you - there is some damage to the outer cladding of the LM in that photo. I need to try and find out a bit more about how that came about.

 

[Stu]

I love these two, and enjoy seeing them at different illuminations as they can look very different (as does every lunar feature I guess!) They certainly have been catching my eye the last few nights 

[John]

3 minutes ago, Stu said:

I love these two, and enjoy seeing them at different illuminations as they can look very different (as does every lunar feature I guess!) They certainly have been catching my eye the last few nights 

Should be nicely illuminated tonight as well

Forecast is clear here until around 1:00 am I think.

Here is an Apollo 11 photo of the pair:

 

Edited March 1, 2021 by John

[Stu]

Cloudy here now  

[Stu]

Always amazes me just how often you pick them up in images though, like this!

[Pete Presland]

On 28/02/2021 at 00:22, John said:

I've been observing the moon tonight, like many of us I expect.

The craters Messier and Messier A, with the distinctive comet-type rays extending from the latter, are nicely on show in the Mare Fecunditatis and will be for the next couple of days, clouds allowing. Well worth a look though any telescope.

While finding out more about this interesting pair of craters I came across this fascinating photo in the Internet Archive. It shows the Apollo 16 Lunar Module "Orion" in lunar orbit while it is being inspected from the Command Service Module "Casper", the photo being taken from the latter craft of course. And in the background, on the lunar surface are the craters Messier A and Messier. Not an image that I've seen before.

You can click on the image to see it at a much larger scale and very impressive it is

https://archive.org/details/as16-122-19533

What an incredible view, not seen it before thank you for sharing John.

[niallk]

I find it difficult to visualise how these were formed, not to mention the ejecta patterns: I've read about possibly a low angle impact & a ricochet. 

Anyone have a link to a video or something which does a good job of illustrating how they may have formed?? I'd be really interested to see it! 

[John]

37 minutes ago, niallk said:

I find it difficult to visualise how these were formed, not to mention the ejecta patterns: I've read about possibly a low angle impact & a ricochet. 

Anyone have a link to a video or something which does a good job of illustrating how they may have formed?? I'd be really interested to see it! 

This interpretation is 10 years old so thinking might have moved on:

 

[John]

2 hours ago, Stu said:

Cloudy here now  

Well it looked OK here earlier but went downhill quite fast - about as long as it took the 130 triplet to cool down

Still, I've had quit a few nights in a row when I've been able to observe so a break won't do any harm.

[JeremyS]

Bad luck John. Was same here: all ready to go, then heavy cloud at dusk. Was hoping for the fifth night in a row.

Still, a night in admiring the Taks is not too much of a hardship 😊

[niallk]

11 hours ago, John said:

This interpretation is 10 years old so thinking might have moved on:

 

Thanks for going to the trouble of posting this @John- exactly what I was hoping for!  I didn't turn it up with a search.

It only enhances the intrigue - they really are a spectacular sight.  I wonder if anyone has ever reproduced a pattern like this in computer simulation or using the likes of the (Nasa/JPL?) 'high velocity projectile gun' you sometimes see featured in documentaries.

How wonderful it is to be able to see such sights with modest equipment all from one's back garden!