Hitchhiker's Guide to Rukl Chart 51

Rilles (JRF <freeman _at_ netcom.com>)

Note the rilles on the western edge of Mare Humorum, and in the vicinity of crater de Gasparis.

Rimae de Gasparis (David North <d _at_ timocharis.com>)

I managed another accidental "discovery" in spite of the shaky sky. Looking west of Humorum, I noticed a rille (and easy one at that) previously unnoted by mysillyself. Next to it I seemed to see a small fracture, and some other odd stuff, so I went to see what it might be in Rukl.

Whaddya know! It's rimae de Gasparis, a great fracture section around the crater of the same name, with a degree of complexity approaching that of Triesnecker. It's a bit harder to see, due to the rugged highland characteristics of the terrain, and the long shadows of the hills. But, as the night went by, some of this problem was releived as the shadows shrank. There is some definite crosshatching, and places where the rilles cross mountains and valleys, which makes the hunt both more difficult and more rewarding. Keep an eye out for this one!

Vieta (Steve Coe <scoeandlross _at_ sprintmail.com>)

Medium sized crater with a flat floor, except for a small central peak and two small craters that flank the central peak on either side E-W. There is a little terracing in the walls and the east wall is very white, with a few light grey markings.