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
    • Smart Ways to Give
    • 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
    • Smart Ways to Give
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • Fr. Coyne Fundraiser
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact

Rupes Recta domes

By Richard Hill  |  6 Jul 2022

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

This entry is part 90 of 98 in the series Diary

Southwest of the great crater Arzachel (100km dia.), seen here in the top middle of this image, is the feature called the Straight Wall, or Rupes Recta, a fault running some 114km. In truth, it is neither straight nor a wall. It is an escarpment some 2-3 km wide with a height of 240-300 m (possibly even 450m according to Wood) so it is far from the vertical cliff it at first appears. Neither is it straight as can be seen here! At the south end of the Rupes is an interesting set of mountains nicknamed the Stag’s Horn Mountains because of their shape. It’s not an official name but many lunar observers from the 1950s and 60s are well familiar with them by that name. About 40 km further west is Rima Birt that parallels the Rupes and between the two is the recently formed crater Birt (17km) overlapped by the even more recent Birt A on the east side. At its north end is another shorter unnamed rima. All this seems to sit in the ruins of an ancient flooded crater some 300 km in diameter. On the east side of this larger structure is the crater Thebit (60km) and below right the larger crater Purbach (121km).

Notice the shadow cast by Birt. There’s a mild swelling just beyond and below it. If this is a dome, there is no listing for it. Moving further up the Rupes you get to a point where it widens at the top showing another swelling. This is a recognized dome Birt 1 or B1. Over on the parallel small rima, a little north of this spot is another widening and swelling that is Birt 2. These are among the most difficult domes I have recorded yet but what about the southernmost one? Time will tell.

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

Utility Bills, Icy Moons, and Regional Climate

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  27 May 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Special Divine Action and Miracles

Public Theology  |  22 May 2023  |  Press

A Wooden Tripod falls from the Sky

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  20 May 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Roundtable with Vatican Observatory Staff

By Robert Trembley  |  19 May 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Archives

      • 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
      • 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:
"Diary"

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

89  |  When Time Stops: Happy Easter Triduum!

By Fr. James Kurzynski  |  14 Apr 2022

91  |  Update: Analyzing an Asteroid: Br. Bob Macke, SJ and OSIRIS-REx

By Mr. Christopher Kennedy, Robert Trembley  |  5 Jul 2022  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

92  |  Exploration above and below

By Deirdre Kelleghan  |  30 Jun 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