The Marvels of Rima Hyginus and Its Celestial Charm

Welcome, space enthusiasts and lunar lovers alike!

Grab your telescopes and pack a bag of moon rocks (or at least some snacks) as we embark on a journey to one of the Moon‘s spectacular geological features—Rima Hyginus. Yes, you heard right! Our enchanting lunar neighbor is home to this magnificent fissure, a cosmic scar stretching a whopping 220 kilometers across the near side of the Moon, as if Mother Nature decided to take a deep breath and accidentally left her mark.
Now, before you break out your craters and craters of moon dust, let’s take a closer look at Rima Hyginus. This fabled fissure appears like a cosmic ribbon, lacing its way from the upper left to the lower right in impressive telescopic views. It’s easy to spot, even if you’re only using the cosmic potato your neighbor swears is a telescope. But be sure to catch those exaggerated colors—an imaginative palette revealing the mineral composition of the lunar soil! Forget about art galleries; this is celestial artwork that would have Van Gogh spinning in his grave.

At the heart of this marvel lies the Hyginus crater, positioned right at the center of the narrow groove that defines Rima Hyginus. And let’s talk about this crater—about 10 kilometers in diameter and low-walled, it’s a volcanic caldera, one of the more prominent non-impact craters on our beloved Moon. Picture it: a giant, pockmarked dish that’s caught the Moon’s volcanic hiccups over the centuries. If craters had personalities, Hyginus would certainly throw some wild parties, dotted with small pits formed by surface collapse—those charming little blemishes that add character, like wrinkles on the face of a wise old sage.

So, how did this dramatic rift come to be? Well, gossip around the lunar campfire suggests that the fissure was likely birthed from the stresses of internal magma upwelling and collapse along a long surface fault. That’s right, folks! Rima Hyginus is not just a pretty face; it’s got quite the fiery backstory. Magnificent magma bubbling away while the Moon was, let’s say, feeling a tad under pressure—who among us hasn’t had days like that?

Interestingly enough, this region piqued the interest of space explorers during the Apollo missions—specifically, it was considered a landing site for the fated Apollo 19 mission. Alas, fate had other plans, and that landing never came to fruition. Perhaps it was too busy being majestic for a rendezvous with astronauts, or maybe NASA just couldn’t find a good pizza place nearby.

In the end, whether you’re a seasoned astrophysicist or an enthusiastic stargazer armed with nothing but curiosity, Rima Hyginus serves as a reminder of just how dynamic and unpredictable our universe can be. So, the next time you’re gazing at the Moon, take a moment to appreciate the grandeur of Hyginus. After all, in the cosmic game of hide and seek, it certainly knows how to leave its mark. Happy stargazing, my fellow moonwalkers!

Image via NASA https://ift.tt/3ArzTVx