Observation by Raffaello: Lunar volcanic field, domes in Cauchy Vi...

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Raffaello

Observer

Raffaello

Observed

2024 Apr 14 - 14:20

Uploaded

2024 Apr 14 - 14:21

Objects

The Moon

Equipment
  • Mak Cassegrain 18 cm
Location

Rome Italy

Title

Lunar volcanic field, domes in Cauchy Vitruvius

About this image

Mosaic of a lunar volcanic region including domes in Cauchy (rima and rupes Cauchy), Vitruvius, Maraldi and the Gardner Megadome along the Jansen volcanic complex (at the terminator).Two well-known domes in this region are Cauchy ω (C2) and τ (C3). The vents of C1, C4, C13 and C15 are all aligned in about the same direction. This direction is parallel to Rima and Rupes Cauchy and also to the direction in which the eight domes in northern Mare Tranquillitatis (NTA domes), including Diana and Grace are aligned. This direction is approximately radial to Mare Imbrium.So an explanation of the alignment is that domes were formed along crustal fractures generated by major impact events, hence running radially with respect to the basin locations. Evidence for this is particularly strong at the Cauchy region, which is characterized by a set of large graben/lava fissures (Rimae Cauchy I and II) that are radial to Imbrium basin. North of Rima Cauchy, another alignment of lunar mare domes is situated, termed Northern Tranquillitatis Alignment (NTA). C2 (Cauchy ω) has a diameter of 12.2 km, a height of 125 m, an average flank slope of 1.17° while its neighbor C3 (Cauchy τ) is characterized by larger diameter (17 km), with height of 190 m corresponding to a flank slope of 1.3°. Another alternative explanation is that these domes are part of larger volcanic province of the Cauchy shield.

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