Skip to content
Vatican Observatory
  • About
    • Overview
    • Team
    • FAQ
  • Telescopes
    • Overview
    • Telescope Images
  • Latest
    • Overview
    • Resources
    • Press
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Research
    • Authors
      • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Tucson Meteor Cameras
  • Podcast
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Resource Center
    • Image Gallery
    • Summer School
    • Books
    • Software
    • Additional Resources
    • ACME
    • Ambassadors
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Support
    • Overview
    • Donate Now
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • Fr. Coyne Fundraiser
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact
  • About
    • Overview
    • Team
    • FAQ
  • Telescopes
    • Overview
    • Telescope Images
  • Latest
    • Overview
    • Resources
    • Press
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Research
    • Authors
      • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Tucson Meteor Cameras
  • Podcast
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Resource Center
    • Image Gallery
    • Summer School
    • Books
    • Software
    • Additional Resources
    • ACME
    • Ambassadors
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Support
    • Overview
    • Donate Now
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • Fr. Coyne Fundraiser
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact

From Torricelli to Apollo 11

By Richard Hill  |  12 Aug 2022

Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email

This entry is part 73 of 73 in the series Lunarcy

North of Theophilus is Sinus Asperitatis a flat region at the bottom of this image that contains the interesting pear-shaped crater Torricelli (23x31km) below and right of center. This crater has been a favorite of mine for many years sitting as it does on the north side of a much larger ghost crater some 75km diameter. It is the merging of at least 2 craters of Imbrium age (3.2-3.8 billion years old) filled with ejecta from surrounding impacts. On the opposite side (left) of the Sinus is another odd shaped crater that points more or less south. This is Hypatia (28x41km) also of Imbrian age, also overlain by ejecta materials. Notice the sideways “V” shaped shaft of light from sunlight streaming in through the break in the western wall. It’s fun to watch these kind of light shows as they change rapidly with time.

North of this region is Mare Tranquillitatis and the site of the Apollo 11 Base. Two large craters on the left side of this are Sabine (31km) south and Ritter (32km) north. They make it easy to find the “Tranquility Base”. Between these two craters and Torricelli is the small crater Moltke (7km) and between Moltke and Sabine is a large system of rilles named Rimae Hypatia. These are not the thin cracks like the Triesnecker rimae, but rather are grabens where a block of land drops down between two roughly parallel faults. In this case we have two such grabens parallel to each other. Then in the upper right corner, near the label, is the crater Maskelyne (26km) another odd chaped crater but younger than most of the other craters we have pointed out, being of Eratosthenian age (1.1-3.2 b.y.o.) and so this one is not filled in by ejecta like the much older craters.

This is a wonderful region with a lot more going on. Enjoy it for yourself when the moon is about 6.3 days old!

Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email

Sacred Space Astronomy

The Vatican Observatory’s official digital community and online magazine.

Become a Member

Recent Posts

Astronomy in Art & Architecture: A “Laudato Si” Mural on the Highway to Climate (and Light Pollution) Hell

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  28 Jan 2023

The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell

By Faith and Science  |  24 Jan 2023  |  Resources

Matteo Ricci and Astronomy

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  21 Jan 2023

How this astrophysicist and Jesuit priest balances science and spirituality

CBC  |  20 Jan 2023  |  Press

Archives

      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • August
      • June
      • March
      • January
      • November
      • October
      • December
      • November
      • April
      • May
      • January
      • December
      • September
      • May
      • March
      • December
      • November
      • February

More Posts in this Series:
"Lunarcy"

78  |  What Do We Lose When We Sacrifice Science?

By Br. Guy Consolmagno  |  27 May 2021  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

69  |  To err is human… to admit it, is science

By Br. Guy Consolmagno  |  25 Mar 2021  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

72  |  Linné the crater

By Richard Hill  |  13 Jun 2022

74  |  Lansberg Domes

By Richard Hill  |  17 Aug 2022

75  |  Crater chains

By Richard Hill  |  3 Sep 2022  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Newsletter

Upcoming astronomical events, scientific breakthroughs, philosophical reflections… just a few reasons to subscribe to our newsletter!

  • *
Vatican Observatory
  • About
  • Telescopes
  • Latest
  • Podcast
  • Education
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Support
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
Privacy Policy  |   Cookie Policy  |   Disclosure Statement

Podcast:

  • Apple Podcasts Listen onApple Podcasts
  • Spotify Listen onSpotify
  • Google Podcasts Listen onGoogle Podcasts
  • Stitcher Listen onStitcher
  • Amazon Alexa Listen onAmazon Alexa
  • TuneIn Listen onTuneIn
Made by Longbeard