Hi all,
The weather here in Sydney has been rather miserable for
astronomy. So this post is something I’ve
been wanting to do for some time, show how the angle of incoming sunlight can
totally change the appearance of otherwise familiar features.
The straight wall is one of the most striking features
outside of its innumerable craters.
Astonishingly long and straight, this 110km long Faultline escarpment is
surprisingly only 300m tall at its highest.
By far the most frequently seen images of Rupes Recta is
during sunrise over it when its dark shadow marks out is location on the
eastern section of Mare Nubium. The
lunar landscape is very well known, although less well known are the two domes
that sit on the northern end of the smaller Rima Birt, Birt 1 & Birt 2.
The shadows on the plain are different, showing an
unfamiliar perspective around what otherwise are familiar features of craters
and rilles. And the appearance of the
Straight Wall is not a dark shadows but a brilliant white.
I was very surprised to see such a different set of shadows
on the plain surrounding the Straight Wall.
Admittedly sunlight was at a shallower angle. All the same, the distinct play of textures
and landscape was unexpected.
Even the Straight Wall itself shows interesting shadows,
giving insight to the different angles at which surrounding planes that form
the fault are set at.
Both sketches were done using an 8" SCT. Sunrise at 250X, Sunset at 200X.
Clear skies, cool cameras and sharp pencils,
Alex.
Great quality in your sketches, Alex. Rupes Recta is such a fascinating Lunar feature and your detail is incredible.
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