Tycho Crater

Tycho crater (80 km diameter) is one of the best preserved nearside impact craters. Its strikingly bright rays radiate outward for great distances and are easily visible with even a small telescope. The youth of the crater is evident in this oblique view showing its sharp, fresh rim. The rough, flat floor formed as huge volumes of impact melt ponded; the melt formed from the enormous heat of the impact event. The large terraces on the walls formed as the crater relaxed after the impact, and large blocks of crust slid downward into the crater. Huge tsunamis of melt resulted, and “high-water” marks can be seen on the sides of the central peak.

• Latitude: -43.41°
• Longitude: 348.467°
• Camera: NAC
• Image Width: 95.0 km
• Image(s): M181286769LR
• Download Image