{"id":62743,"date":"2024-08-28T08:42:29","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T08:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e5bd4d21-6467-4775-ab47-69a7b58a460f"},"modified":"2024-08-28T09:41:00","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T09:41:00","slug":"deslandres-is-a-large-ancient-and-time-worn-feature-on-the-moon-heres-how-to-see-it-for-yourself","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/deslandres-is-a-large-ancient-and-time-worn-feature-on-the-moon-heres-how-to-see-it-for-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"Deslandres is a large, ancient and time-worn feature on the Moon. Here’s how to see it for yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Pete Lawrence\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 28 August 2024 at 08:42 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Deslandres<\/strong> is a large, ancient and time-worn feature located just to the southeast of 750km Mare<\/strong> Nubium<\/strong> (the Sea of Clouds).<\/p>

A day after the first quarter Moon, there are two extremes visible in this region: the young, bright 86km crater Tycho <\/strong>and the dark, lava-filled 98km crater Pitatus<\/strong><\/a> on the southern edge of Mare Nubium.<\/p>

Centre to centre, Pitatus lies 410km north of Tycho.<\/p>

Head three-quarters of the way along this connecting line starting from Tycho, then head east for 200km and you\u2019ll be at the centre of Deslandres.<\/p>

Diagram showing the location of Deslandres on the Moon. Click to expand. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Quick facts<\/strong><\/h2>
Type:<\/strong> Walled plain<\/li>
Size: <\/strong>235km<\/li>
Longitude\/latitude: <\/strong>5.6\u00b0 W, 32.5\u00b0 S<\/li>
Age: <\/strong>Older than 3.9 billion years<\/li>
Best time to see: <\/strong>First quarter or six days after full Moon<\/li>
Minimum equipment:<\/strong> 10x binoculars<\/li><\/ul>What Deslandres looks like<\/strong><\/h2>Unlike either Tycho<\/a> or Pitatus, Deslandres isn\u2019t as well defined, appearing as a large rim containing flat yet battered terrain.<\/p>
The most obvious rim is that which borders the northern portion of the crater, that to the south having been heavily bombarded and overlaid by smaller craters.<\/p>
Amazingly, Deslandres is the third-largest crater formation on the Earth-facing side of the Moon.<\/p>
Only 231km Clavius<\/a><\/strong> and 303km Billy <\/strong>are larger.<\/p>
The roughly defined portions of Deslandres\u2019s rim meant that for a long time it wasn\u2019t recognised as a crater in its own right, until a suggestion by Eugene Antoniadi in 1942 led to official recognition by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1948.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Labelled$
See how many craterlets and crater chains you can spot inside heavily battered Deslandres. Click to expand. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Observing Deslandres<\/strong><\/h2>
Deslandres is a wonderful feature to explore when the lunar terminator is nearby, thanks to the richness of smaller features that litter its floor.<\/p>
The 33km crater Hell <\/strong>sits inside Deslandres close to the western rim.<\/p>
Hell is well defined with a sharp rim that terraces down to a distinctive central mountain.<\/p>
Many of the craterlets inside Deslandres are labelled as satellites of Hell, 21km Hell A<\/strong> further to the south of Hell, forming the right-angle in a right-angled east-pointing triangle with 14km Hell C<\/strong>.<\/p>
Towards the northern internal edge of Deslandres\u2019s rim is the flooded crater Hell B<\/strong>.<\/p>
$\"Mare$
Mare Nubium as seen by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Click to expand. Credit: NASA \/ Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Those with larger instruments or high-resolution imaging setups may be able to see a crater chain running from just west of Hell A, past the western rim of Hell, heading straight north-northeast.<\/p>
Another, much shorter chain can be seen 65km to the southeast of Hell B.<\/p>
This consists of five small craterlets arranged in a straight line, heading north-northeast of 5km Hell H<\/strong>, marking the chain\u2019s southern end.\u00a0<\/p>
The 41km crater Ball <\/strong>overlays Deslandres\u2019s southwest rim, together with 29km Ball A<\/strong> to its northwest.<\/p>
The weak southern rim of Deslandres to the east of Ball is pockmarked by small 10km craterlets before you arrive at a large southern rim interloper, the 63km partial crater Lexell<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>
Deslandres\u2019s eastern limb fares no better, as it\u2019s shared with 141km Walther<\/strong>. Perhaps ‘shared’ isn\u2019t quite the right term here, as Walther is obviously the winner, the rim section here curved to better fit its overall profile.<\/p>
Immediately west of Walther is 32km Walther W<\/strong>, a very rough-hewn feature that appears both elevated and flooded.<\/p>
$\"Photograph$
Photograph of Deslandres on the Moon. Click to expand. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
An 8km craterlet sits immediately west of Walther W which is labelled Walther G<\/strong>.<\/p>
It and the much smaller 4km craterlet Hell Q<\/strong> mark the position of a young feature that appears very bright at the period around full Moon.<\/p>
This feature was first mapped by Giovanni Domenico Cassini in 1672 and is occasionally referred to as \u2018Cassini\u2019s bright spot\u2019.<\/p>
Have you observed or photographed Deslandres? Get in touch and let us know by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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Quick facts<\/strong><\/h2>Type:<\/strong> Walled plain<\/li>Size: <\/strong>235km<\/li>Longitude\/latitude: <\/strong>5.6\u00b0 W, 32.5\u00b0 S<\/li>Age: <\/strong>Older than 3.9 billion years<\/li>Best time to see: <\/strong>First quarter or six days after full Moon<\/li>