Abstract
Lunar Orbiter photographs of large, fresh rayed craters show that V-shaped features commonly occur on the outer part of the ejecta blanket and on the rays, and are associated with satellitic craters thought to be of secondary impact origin. A description of the form and distribution of the V-features surrounding Copernicus is given. It is concluded that they consist of fragmental debris emplaced by deposition during the formation of Copernicus, either as ‘bow-dunes’ formed by base surge, or as clots of debris thrown out ballistically. The latter explanation is compared with the results of laboratory-scale experimental cratering. Features of this type are considered to be of importance in interpreting the mode of formation of ejecta blankets of certain large lunar craters.
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Guest, J.E., Murray, J.B. A large scale surface pattern associated with the ejecta blanket and rays of copernicus. The Moon 3, 326–336 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00561844
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00561844