Gallery: Dazzling Satellite Views of Vast Moon Crater
01aristarchus-wall
This towering silver wall is one small section of the moon’s enormous Aristarchus crater. One of the brightest features on the moon’s surface, Aristarchus can easily be spotted with the naked eye, though even modest binoculars will greatly enhance the view. Going one better, NASA’s [Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter](http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov/) snapped this spectacular image as it swooped down to just 16 miles above the lunar surface, or just twice as high as commercial airliners fly on Earth. Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and 26 miles wide, Aristarchus was created when an asteroid hit the moon approximately 450 million years ago. The impact excavated deep into the lunar crust and produced dark clumps and streamers of pyroclastic ash—glasses formed during fiery eruptions similar to those in the Hawaiian Islands. Ledges seen on the wall are topped with sagging blocks of pre-impact lunar crust. The full panorama photo shows an area nearly two miles high and 15 miles wide. But features down to just 15 inches across can be resolved, so [try zooming in](http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M175569775) on your favorite boulder. [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/?attachment_id=90867) *Images: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University*
02aristarchus-on-the-moon
Aristarchus on the Moon ----------------------- Aristarchus crater is located in the northwest part of the moon’s near side. East and south of the crater lies the largest [lunar mare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_mare), Oceanus Procellarum, created by enormous outpourings of lava early in the moon’s history. Northwest of the crater is the mysterious Aristarchus plateau, one of the most geologically diverse areas on the moon. Strange features known as [transient lunar phenomenon](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/lunar-swirl-mystery-conference/ "Swirly Moon Markings Remain Mysterious") have appeared on this plain, though scientists are still mystified as to their cause. *Image: NASA*
03aristarchus-in-color
Aristarchus in Color -------------------- NASA’s [Hubble space telescope](http://hubblesite.org/) imaged Aristarchus crater using ultraviolet and visible wavelengths to produce this psychedelic photo. It potentially reveals the presence of ilmenite, a titanium mineral rich in oxygen. Ilmenite is important because its oxygen can be easily extracted, making it valuable for rocket fuel and life support. Because of this, Aristarchus was high on the list of possible landing sites for the Apollo program and may be considered once again should people ever return to the moon. *Image: NASA/ESA/HST Moon Team*
04rocky-diversity
Rocky Diversity --------------- The wall of Aristarchus crater contains a variety of textures, some examples of which are seen in these two images. *Image: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University*
05crater-at-dawn
Crater at Dawn -------------- Seen at sunrise, the walls of Aristarchus glow brightly. Arrows in this image indicate the approximate edges of the large panorama. *Image: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University*
06aristarchus-midday
Aristarchus Midday ------------------ When fully illuminated by sunlight, you can see bright ejecta from the impact that formed Aristarchus. Researchers are eager to study the crater’s floor, which may hold clues to the formation of granite on the moon, a process that's not well understood. *Image: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University*
