Vallis
Contents
Vallis (valley)
(glossary entry; plural = Valles)
Description
One of 18 different categories of lunar features recognized in the current system of [/IAU%20nomenclature IAU nomenclature]. The IAU defines a vallis as a "valley". The term is used as prefix to the feature name.
Additional Information
- In the earlier IAU nomenclature of [/Blagg%20and%20M%C3%BCller Blagg and Müller] the English word "Valley" was used in the official names, of which there were only three: "[/Vallis%20Alpes Alpine Valley]", "[/Vallis%20Rheita Rheita Valley]", and "[/Schr%C3%B6ter%27s%20Valley Schröter's Valley]". It was the authors' intention that each user would spell names of this sort in their own language. Since the Latinization of lunar names in [/IAU%20Transactions%20XIB 1961], the [/IAU IAU] presumably now expects scientists of all countries to use the Latin forms. - JimMosher JimMosher
- At least two features today regarded as valleys were named like "primary" craters in [/Blagg%20and%20M%C3%BCller Blagg and Müller] ([/Vallis%20Bouvard Bouvard] and [/J.%20Cassini J. J. Cassini]). The former of these has been retained in the modern nomenclature as [/Vallis%20Bouvard Vallis Bouvard]; the latter name was dropped. Other features regarded as "valleys" were assigned capital Roman letter designations, indistinguishable from [/lettered%20craters lettered craters]. The original [/Rima%20Schr%C3%B6ter Schröter F] is probably an example of this.
- The locations of many additional nearside valleys are indicated on the [/Quad%20Maps Quad Maps] of the [/System%20of%20Lunar%20Craters System of Lunar Craters]. The precise number of valleys identified is difficult to assess because the graphic used to designate them is slightly ambiguous, consisting of two [/rupes scarp] symbols facing each other. Names were assigned to only four of these: [/Vallis%20Baade Vallis Baade], [/Vallis%20Inghirami Vallis Inghirami], [/Vallis%20Palitzsch Vallis Palitzsch], and [/Vallis%20Snellius Vallis Snellius].
- Two farside "valleys" were given names in [/Menzel%2C%201971 1970/1971]: [/Vallis%20Planck Vallis Planck] and [/Vallis%20Schr%C3%B6dinger Vallis Schrödinger].
- The (barely) nearside feature [/Vallis%20Bohr Vallis Bohr] and two minor parts of [/Aratus%20CA Aratus CA] were added by the IAU in [/IAU%20Transactions%20XVIB 1976]. The valleys associated with Aratus CA are much smaller and different in origin than virtually all other named valleys. This was an inappropriate use of the term. - tychocrater tychocrater Jun 4, 2009
- Finally, [/Vallis%20Capella Vallis Capella] was added at some unknown date.
- Most of the newly named lunar valleys are probable basin [/catena crater chains], and the ones near [/Orientale%20Basin Orientale] are full of its ejecta. The [/Alpine%20Valley Alpine Valley] is a basin radial feature (as are most valleys) but fundamentally different in look and probably origin than the many newly named valleys. - tychocrater tychocrater Sep 2, 2007
Lunar Valleys
- [/Lunar%20Valleys List] of lunar "valles".
LPOD Articles
Bibliography
This page has been edited 1 times. The last modification was made by - tychocrater tychocrater on Jun 13, 2009 3:24 pm
