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This is extremely very cool! Make sure you have your 3-D glasses on and take a 3-D ride in and around Tycho Crater on the Moon, courtesy of Japan’s Kaguya (Selene) mission. Tycho Crater is the big crater located on the Moon’s southern hemisphere, easily visible, especially when the Moon is full. The crater is notable for its emanating bright rays. The movie starts with an overview image of Tycho Crater, then approaches the central peak, flies along the steep slope of the inner wall, flies over the backside of the crater, and approaches the central peak again. Go get your 3-D glasses, and view the movie here. And hang on!
More about the movie and Tycho Crater:
The creation of the two minute 3-D analglyph fly-through movie was made using data from Kaguya’s Stereo Terrain Camera. The crater is named after Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. The impact that created Tycho Crater ejected highland anorthositic crust all over the near side of the Moon. This impact by a small asteroidal body took place about 100 million years ago, when the dinosaurs inhabited the Earth. It was, however, still a relatively recent event in lunar history, and the effects of the impact event can clearly be seen in this movie. Enjoy!
Source: Kaguya website
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