MOONWATCH

Ukert is a small, 23km diameter crater, located midway between Mare Vaporum and Sinus Medii. Actually, diameter isn’t quite the correct term here because Ukert looks more like an equilateral triangle with bulging edges. Interestingly, the three ‘edges’ appear to be connected by ridges running from their midpoints to a central peak.

Ukert stands out against the rough terrain between Vaporum and Medii. There is a curious linearity to the roughness, which seems to run in parallel striations from northwest to southeast. The 26km crater

Ukert M, located immediately east of Ukert, creates a marked interruption within these linear features. Despite its similar size, Ukert M lacks the carved-out rim of Ukert, and simply resembles a flattened area within the rough terrain.

A number of smaller craters lie nearby, with 9km Ukert A to the north and 5km Ukert P to the east. A 6km crater, located 20km to the southwest, is actually Pallas N, a satellite of the V is largely formed from of 50km Pallas, which lies the elevated feature that runs 110km southwest of Ukert. from the northeast edge of For a real challenge, try Ukert M to the northeast. The to spot the tiny 3.5km crater point of the V is formed by the that sits at the northern vertex elevated region that runs along of Ukert’s triangular shape. the east and south of 17km

The region between Ukert Ukert N, a flat-floored crater and Ukert A is defined as the conjoined to Ukert M. The 21km crater Ukert B, but it western arm then begins with is quite indistinct. the illuminated eastern rim of Despite its diminutive size, Ukert extending towards the Ukert is given a boost in north. A pair of high ridges notoriety around the first completes the main section of quarter phase because it forms the V’s western arm.

part of the ‘clair-obscur’ (or When the V is visible, there’s exaggerated shadow) effect also a wealth of detail nearby. known as the Lunar V. This To the southeast is 27km

forms at the same time as the Triesnecker, only partially better-known Lunar X, both illuminated. To the east is a of them created when the complex set of cracks in the lava advancing morning terminator known as Rimae Triesnecker. illuminates certain elevated They are among the most features to produce X and V intricate and extensive rille shapes that appear to float systems on the lunar surface against the darker, shadowed and well worth catching under surface below. The eastern arm oblique illumination.

“For a challenge try to spot the tiny 3.5km crater on Ukert’s northern tip”

This is the region that creates the Lunar V at the same time the Lunar X is visible further south 100km Pallas N Pallas Ukert B Ukert Ukert A Ukert M Ukert P Ukert N Hyginus Triesnecker Rimae Triesnecker