Contains:  Solar system body or event
Plato crater and its surroundings, Conrado Serodio

Plato crater and its surroundings

Plato crater and its surroundings, Conrado Serodio

Plato crater and its surroundings

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Description

Plato crater in Sep 22 2015 : Plato is actually the lava-filled remains of a lunar impact crater on the Moon, located on the NE shore of the Mare Imbrium. The rim is irregular with 2000 mt peaks that project prominent shadows across the crater floor (as can be see in this photo) . The rim of Plato is circular, but from the Earth it appears oval due to its view position from our Earth.

Plato has a reputation also for TLPs (transient lunar phenomena), including flashes of light, unusual colour patterns, and areas of hazy visibility that occurred in the recent past.

Nearby Plato, we found the Plato Rima , a remarkable rille that is supposed to be formed in the past by a lava channel . In the rille and its surroundings there are significant deposits of pyroclastic material (see box) . Pyroclastic deposits consist of small, glassy volcanic beads that subdue and mantle the surrounding terrain, produced by explosive fire-fountaining eruptions billions of years ago when the Moon was more geologically active. When magma cools rapidly (quenched), atoms do not have the time to form orderly structures (minerals) so a glass results. Pyroclastic deposits are potentially some of the most valuable resources to support human lunar habitation. Processing pyroclastic materials can provide relatively easy access to oxygen and water for future lunar explorers.

Compilation : Conrado Serodio

Source : NASA/LRO missions

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Plato crater and its surroundings, Conrado Serodio