Moon Science: Jackson Crater's Central Peak | NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Moon Science: Jackson Crater's Central Peak | NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Central peak Jackson crater seen obliquely

Spectacular contrasts of gray scale in the central peak of Jackson crater signal variations in composition and maturity (degree of freshness of the surface). Image is 3100 meters wide, north is to the right, M1265842750LR

Jackson Crater east-to-west oblique (subsampled)

East-to-west view of Jackson crater (71 kilometers diameter). Image was acquired when LRO was at an altitude of 111 kilometers and the Sun was to the west of the crater (LROC was facing somewhat towards the Sun; phase angle 114 degrees). The central peak rises about 1800 meters above the crater floor and the top of the crater rim in the background has more than 4000 meters relief relative to the floor. Image width is about 64 kilometers and north is to the right, M1265842750LR

Jackson is a prominent lunar impact crater that is located in the northern hemisphere on the far side of the Moon. Less than one crater to the northeast is the crater Mineur, and to the south-southwest lies McMath. This crater created a large ray system. A skirt of higher-albedo material covers the surface within one crater diameter with a slightly darker band along the outer ramparts. Beyond that radius, the rays form wide sections that grow increasingly diffuse and wispy with distance. The largest sections lie in roughly 90° arcs to the northeast and southwest, while a narrower arc projects to the south-southeast. The rays continue for hundreds of kilometers across the surface.

The rim of the crater is well-defined and not significantly worn. The edge is somewhat polygonal in shape, with the southeastern rim being more rounded. The inner walls display some terracing. The interior floor is generally level with some irregularities in the northeastern part. Parts of the floor have a relatively high albedo. Jackson lies to the northwest of the Dirichlet-Jackson Basin.

What is the composition of the crust in Jackson Crater from top to bottom? It is relatively easy to measure the surface, but what lies beneath the surface? On the Earth geologists can dig and drill deep into the crust. We do not have that luxury on the Moon, at least not yet. However, we can take advantage of natural drill holes in the crust—impact craters. When impacts occur they dig into the crust and the central peaks expose the deepest material. Jackson Crater formed on what was rather uneven terrain—to the east of the crater the elevation is about +6000 meters and to the west about +3000 meters. The bottom of the crater sits at +1000 meters, and the material exposed in the central peak comes from more than 1000 meters deeper still. By studying the rocks exposed in the central peak, we can get a glimpse of materials that have come up from five or more kilometers below the surface (>3 miles).

This year, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) celebrates its 16th anniversary orbiting the Moon (2009-2026). This mission has given scientists the largest volume of data ever collected by a planetary science mission at NASA. Considering that success and the continuing functionality of the spacecraft and its instruments, NASA awarded the mission an extended mission phase to continue operations. LRO continues to be one of NASA's most valuable tools for advancing lunar science.

Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University
Text Credits: Mark Robinson, Wikipedia
Release Date: July 19, 2019

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