reply to post by jkrog08
Yes, that is the crater in question.
Lava tube questions:
1) I would not venture a guess as to the age of the lava tubes (if that's what they are).
2) I don't have the patience to search for similar features. But if I did, and if I found them, how would that validate the lava tube theory over the
vehicle track theory? Wouldn't that just mean there were vehicles all over the Moon?
There are different kinds of faults, all are not straight. The examples of faulting on Mars have been subject to weathering. Schroeter's Valley (on
the Moon) was not produced by faulting. It, and the other rilles on the Aristarchus plateau are very likely the result of volcanic activity; perhaps
the collapse of very large lava tubes or the carving of channels by molten lava. Before you ask, being in a level area rather than a steep slope, the
lava tubes would tend to meander. Similar to the way a river flowing though level terrain does.
Here is an example of a straight rille on the Moon, produced by surface fracturing along a fault line. Even though on a much a larger scale than the
ones on the slopes of Moltke, it shows remarkable linearity.
history.nasa.gov...
I don't know for certain what made the lines on the side of Moltke. But the examples I showed make it pretty hard to imagine they were made by
vehicles.
[edit on 5/7/2009 by Phage]
