Structures Near Vitruvius?
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- Category: Moon
- Written by Todd Hetherington
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I think among some of the best Apollo imagery, the Apollo panoramics that were shot of the Taurus / Littrow valley and the surrounding areas near Vitruvius crater, are perhaps the very best. The solid exposures and unique topography of the area make for a really interesting series of images. The series I’m referring to is from about AS17-P-2300 to AS17-P-2321 taken during orbit 15. I have posted a number of images in the forum from this particular series (below).
http://www.whatsupinthesky.com/index.php/forum/the-moon/1144-the-taurus-littrow-valley-apollo-17-landing-site-as17-p-2314#2377
Image AS17-P-2301 taken near Littrow F and Vitruvius A, is of course, no exception. The image itself has many isolated patches of darker terrain which are similar to the image below cropped from the NASA/JSC/Arizona State University tif tile 5. In the center of the cropped image is a step “C” shaped platform with slightly higher elevation on one side, slightly lower on the other.
(Above image processed from the NASA/JSC/Arizona Stae University AS17-P-2301 raw tif tile 5.)
On the platform, there appear to be structures resembling buildings. The largest structure visible (below, center) appears as if it might have an A-frame construction design. Other structures appear more traditionally square and a couple of structures appear to have tipped over. (Below, center left).
(Above image processed from the NASA/JSC/Arizona State University AS17-P-2301 raw tif tile 5.)
Below, also from AS17-P-2301, an odd arrangement of structures and objects resembling statues casting a shadow on the lunar suface behind them.
(Above image processed from the NASA/JSC/Arizona State University AS17-P-2301 raw tif tile 5.)