A Tortuous Path in Posidonius

This may look like a work of abstract art, but in reality, it's our Moon and is for science.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, or LROC, is a system of three cameras mounted on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) that capture high resolution photos of the lunar surface.

This colorful image is an LROC slope map of the northwestern portion of the floor of Posidonius crater. Warmer colors indicate steeper slopes, whereas cooler colors are shallower slopes. A rille winds its way across the floor and flows along a southerly course, diverging from its path along the crater rim. A tributary rille (or narrow channel) can be seen joining the main rille at the bottom center. Image width is approximately 3.4 miles. North is up.

Read more: lroc.sese.asu.edu/posts/796

Credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.