The Clavius ​​crater is the third largest crater visible on the near side. It is located in the mountains south of the Moon, south of the crater Tycho.

Because of its great size, Clavius ​​can be detected with the naked eye. Clavius ​​is one of the oldest formations on the surface of the moon, was formed during the Nectarian (-3850 to -3920 million years).

It has a relatively smooth outer wall compared to its size which rises to 3500 meters above the surrounding soil, since the floor is level with the soil which causes many do not consider crater but a walled plain. This crater 30 000 square kilometers, has been targeted by other very small impact craters younger.

If you were in the center of Clavius​​, you would not see the edges of the walls because of the curvature of the moon.

The image below shows dramatically the Clavius ​​crater at an angle of very favorable solar lighting that highlights the remarkable way the majority of their accidents.

But let's leave aside Clavius ​​and stick us in Rutherfurd?

Rutherfurd was registered in this photo in a very detailed way and also on your floor numerous boulders which are one of its striking features can be seen.

Many stones are at the bottom of steep slopes on the crater floor Rutherfurd (45 km diameter). Probably were dislodged by earthquakes caused by impacts nearby and they just roll onto the floor. Several LROC images have shown the importance of rolling stones from high places because they offer explorers the opportunity to review the material this up without climbing mountains. However, many of the LROC images have shown that stones are commonly found perched on topographic highs, both in small hills and big mountains. They certainly do not rolled these high points - how they got there? What can they tell us about the geology of the crater?

These boulders may be the remains of melting temporarily impact occurred on a high mountain on the crater floor. As the melted and hardened formed a thin, fragile shell, which was later broken by earthquakes or small impacts.

Boulders can also be found by other without apparent source, and all sizes. No matter its origin or size, they will be useful to future astronauts as they explore the moon.

The Rutherfurd crater has an incredible variety of geological features see the whole picture NAC and enjoy all this diversity of details.

Source: LPOD - LROC / NASA - Astronoo

Adaptation and photo: Avani Soares

Oct, 03-2014; 23:38 UT

C14 Edge Qhy 5L + color + 2X Powermate + IR Pass 742

Stacking of only 100 frames in AS! 2