Hitchhiker's Guide to Rukl Chart 38

North Valley (JRF <freeman _at_ netcom.com>)

A long, narrow, not-officially-named valley closely adjoins Mare Crisium to the southeast and south; it starts approximately at Condorcet, appears interrupted by Auzout, then passes northwest of Firmicus and Apollonius. Portions of the valley appear to consist of craters run together, whether by coincidence or in reflection of some subsurface process, I do not know. It is not unreasonable that Mare Crisium might be ringed by concentric circular features stemming from its origin; the not too differently sized Orientale Basin, on the other side of the Moon, has plenty of them.

This feature shows poorly in Rukl's atlases, but is well photographed in chart I of Cherrington's _Exploring_the_Moon_. It seems to be visible only at low sun angles; I have seen it not long after Lunar sunrise, but have not looked for it before Lunar sunset.

San Francisco Bay area observer <d _at_ timocharis.com> David North drew my attention to this valley, and stated that he had not seen any reference that called attention to it. Perhaps, in his honor, we should name it "North Valley" -- the more so because it lies to the south of Mare Crisium ... :-)

Vermiform Valley (David North <d _at_ timocharis.com>)

Personally, I like to call that [valley Jay calls North Valley] the "Vermiform Valley" (which I think means "The Valley That Looks Like A Worm).

North Valley (Bill Arnett)

It is indeed visible at sunset, with a Pronto.

I don't suppose Dave will agree when I say it should really be "Vallis North" :-)

Mare Smythii (David North <d _at_ timocharis.com>)

Low light and proper libration show the rim of Mare Smythii for what it is: a very, very big smack. The edges are not at all high or pronounced, which explains why at any other than ideal light it tends to look flat. But when librated toward us and at the terminator, as it was, it shows a wealth of detail. There are several interior craters, bright and dark vanes, wrinkle ridges, and a marvelously rumpled rim.