Selenology Today is devoted to the publication of contributions in the field of lunar studies. Editor-in-Chief: Manuscripts reporting the results of new research concerning the R. Lena astronomy, geology, physics, chemistry and other scientific Editors: aspects of Earth’s Moon are welcome. M.T. Bregante Selenology Today publishes C. Kapral papers devoted exclusively to the Moon. J. Phillips Reviews, historical papers C. Wöhler and manuscripts describing observing or spacecraft C. Wood instrumentation are considered. Cover Design: P. Salimbeni The Selenology Today Editorial Office Translation [email protected] Service: F. Lottero Selenology Today # 9 February 2008 SELENOLOGY TODAY #9 February 2008 Cover : Image taken by KC Pau Selenology Today websites http://digilander.libero.it/glrgroup/ Profile of Features in the J. Herschel crater, Fontenelle crater and La Condamine Crater Area by S. Boint ………............1 A Workflow for Sharpening Lunar Images by B. Pilz….….13 Observation for Lunar Meteoroid Impacts: Review of Current Techniques by R. Lena and R. Evans ……...……………....32 An Anomalous Transit On the Moon by A. Baudà and M.T. Bregante ………………….…………………...…….……..……......59..……......59 Report of An Unlisted Dome In Sinus Roris by J. Phillips and R. Lena ……...……………………………………..…..……..66 Dyonisius West Wall Spectra Using Multiple Interference Filters and Processing in LTVT and Image J by R. Evans ….….76 Letters To The Editor: Some Interesting Features in Mare Vaporum by A. Giordano ..………………………..…..….….85..………………………..…..….….85 Selenology Today # 9 February 2008 TOPOGRAPHY SELENOLOGY TODAY # 9 Profiles Of Features In the J. Herschel Crater, Fontenelle Crater, The outside west rim of Fontenelle A and La Condamine Crater Area was between 650m and 780m tall. The west side of Fontenelle Epsilon rose be- tween 540m and 640m above the mare. by Steve Boint And, the west side of a peak just north of Fontenelle Epsilon rose between 280m Vice President of American Lunar Society and 360m above its surroundings (ALS) an d p ub lish er o f th e jou rn al Selenology . Abstract Introduction Using LTVT, vertical displacements for a Until the recent interest in the polar number of far-northern features were cal- regions of the moon, mapping of these culated and profiles were graphed. In areas was often neglected. The LAC spite of the limitations imposed by medio- maps available on-line barely touch the cre photographs and the dearth of readily- northern regions and in these areas they available, high-quality maps of this area, contain few measurements other than results were remarkably good. The depth crater depths (U.S. Air Force, NASA and of J. Herschel Crater along its eastern Aeronautical Chart and Information wall varied between 380m and 1570m. La Center 1967). The Topographic Lunar Condamine Crater’s eastern wall rose be- Map put out by the Army Corp of tween 820m and 1800m above its interior. Engineers is low resolution and difficult The partial rim south of J. Herschel F to read (Army Map Service 1964). Rukl’s (longitude -35.29°, latitude 57.55° for the Atlas Of The Moon gives only crater northernmost point measured) varied be- diameters for this region (Rukl, 2004). tween 320m and 470m. The old rim north Westfall’s Atlas Of The Lunar Terminator of Fontenelle Crater (longitude -22.15°, does contain a table listing depths of latitude 68.41° for the northernmost point craters, but these are single values and the measured), once it attained full height, exact position measured is not indicated varied between 810m and 1330m. Low (Westfall, 2000). The-Moon Wiki hills to the west of the old rim run for contains many entries of crater depths but 33,000m and rise to a maximum height of these are also single values with no 210m. The depth of Fontenelle Crater precise location of measurement. It does along its eastern wall was measured in contain values for the height of elevated two locations. The northern point gave a lunar features unconnected to craters, but value of 1690m. The southern measure- none that were measurable in the photos ment gave a value of 1050m. Individual used for this study (The-Moon Wiki). As measurements were made of several fea- a contribution toward filling this gap in tures. our knowledge of the moon, low- The outside west rim of J. Herschel F was resolution, amateur photographs of the between 650m and 720m tall. The outside region bounded by the craters J. Herschel, west rim of La Condamine B was between Fontenelle, and La Condamine were 740m and 940mtall. page 1 TOPOGRAPHY SELENOLOGY TODAY # 9 coupled with LTVT to measure several (against the lunar feature casting the vertical displacements. shadow) was measured in the middle of Method the penumbral area when a sharp edge Four photographs were used. All were was n o t availab le ( Bo in t 20 06; 2 00 7; taken from Sioux Falls, SD: 96.73133° 2008, p u b licat io n p end in g). W. longitude, 43.5293° N latitude, 435 m Ideally, the reference values for above sea level. The area around J. calibrating LTVT would come from a Herschel was imaged using a Newtonian detailed contour map like the Lunar telescope with a ten inch primary, f/4.5, Topographic Orthophoto maps (U.S. 2x Barlow lens, and an SBIG 237a CCD Defense Mapping Agency, 1975). camera. The area around Fontenelle was Unfortunately, none exist for this region imaged with the same telescope but a 5x of the moon. Their usefulness for Barlow lens and the Toucam Pro II calibrating LTVT is that a specific point camera. Each area was photographed can be tied to various shadow lengths in twice. Photos of the J. Herschel area order to show what the correct value were taken on 6/11/03 at 2:06 UT and should be for the shadow being used for 7/10/03 at 2:40 UT. Photos of the calibration. The LAC maps provide the Fontenelle area were taken on 4/27/07 at next best option by giving the vertical 1:33 and 1:51 UT. In order to determine displacement of a specific point and the precision of the measurements, indicating the shadow length and the comparisons were made between data direction it fell in the photo used by the gathered from each photo of an area. LAC researchers to determine the height LTVT (Mosher and Bondo, 2006) was or depth of the feature. Unfortunately, used to determine the vertical few values of this kind are available for displacement of various features. When the northern polar regions. LAC 11 using LTVT, it is preferable to calibrate provides three possible values, two of an the measurements against a known unnamed hill east of J. Herschel crater vertical displacement. This is due to and one of the southwestern wall of La difficulties in determining the exact Condamine. Unfortunately, the photo beginning or ending of a shadow. If a measured for this study lacked known vertical displacement is available, sufficiently clear shadows in these areas. it can be used to determine the extent to LAC 12 also had candidate locations. which a measurement should extend into Unfortunately, the only values calculated the penumbral areas of the shadow. near enough to the target area were for Experience has shown that this can vary Fontenelle crater’s eastern outer rim. considerably between photos (probably The shadow in the photo measured for largely due to changes in shadow length this study fell on the inside of the rim. due to processing). Since no suitable There is sufficient difference in rim vertical displacements were available as height above the lunar surface inside and references for features measurable on the outside a crater that these measurements photographs, the method found most could not be used for calibration. A few common in past experience was used: the other options are available. Using LTVT, shadow tip was measured at the outer end Mosher has measured the height of La of the penumbra and the shadow base Condamine from the Lunar Orbiter photo page 2 TOPOGRAPHY SELENOLOGY TODAY # 9 LO-IV-152H (Mosher, The-Moon Wiki). horizontal values make presentation as a He has found the height to vary between profile preferable. Absolute height 1100m to 1700m. Unfortunately, he does values will undoubtedly become not indicate the exact positions that were available with the lunar orbiters currently measured—limiting the usefulness of this or soon to be circling the moon. Once a data for calibration. It does, however, solid height is established, the profile can provide ballpark values within which be adjusted up or down and still be data from lower resolution images should valuable. LAC 11 was used for fall. Non-reporting of the exact position horizontal positioning. While usable, it from which a measurement was taken does not provide an ideal level of plagues data on crater depth. Often one precision. value is given for a crater’s depth and no The two photos were measured on separate indication is made of the position on the days (over a week apart) without reference rim from which the measurement was to each other and then the results were made. Crater rims are not perfectly compared. This minimized any carryover. smooth. While less of a problem on As the comparison of the two profiles smaller craters, large crater rims can vary shows, the measurements are solid once by hundreds of meters. Using craters for difficulties in horizontal positioning are calibration of LTVT is also difficult taken into account. because the depth given in tables or maps Westfall’s depth for J. Herschel at 900m is assumed to be the deepest value. On a (Westfall, 2000) and Arthur’s depth of single photo, there is no guarantee that 0.74km (Arthur, 1974) are significantly the shadow tip falls exactly at the deepest below the heights calculated here.