Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1972

Abstract

To supplement orbital photography and other remotely senscd data, visuatobservations were made of 15 lunar surface targets during Apollo mission 15. The 30 m resolving power of the eye and its special sensitivities to subtle differences in texture and color-tone, when coupled with the interpretative powers of the brain provide a system of unmatched quality for lunar exploration. The extraordinary success of performing the task proves the outstanding capabilities of man and his use in spaceflight. Among the significant results are (I) Characterization of the floor material of Tsiolkovsky no darker than the average (Eratosthenian) mare material, and interpretation of the lineated unit on the crater rim as a rock avalanche; (2 ldentification of layers on the wall of the crater Picard, which is probably volcanic in origin, (3) explanation of the ray-excluded zone of he crater Proclus RS the result of tructurally con- trolled ray shadowing; (9) observation of cinder cones in the Littrow area with dark haloes that probably r ( are composed of pyroclastic deposits; and (S), recognition that the termini of numerous sinuous rilles in Oceanus Procellarum are flooded with younger mare materials that may have covered older terminal deposits.

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