7 replies to this topic

[JCB]

I’ve discovered some very interesting features on the LROC Quickmap site. I don’t know if they are recent because I haven’t used this tool for a long time, so perhaps there is nothing new to some of you. In this case, this will be a reminder

 

First, my preferred layer is "TerrainHillshade" inside the "ACT Terrain: dynamic DTM" group. It computes a simulation according to a terrain model.
If you click on that layer, you can see additional parameters:

 

"zenith (angle from vertical)" allows to change the height of the sun. I find that values between 60° and 70° are best. When the zenith angle is bigger, the images are too dark. This is not intended to simulate shadows. The right tool for that is LTVT!

 

"azimuth" can change the direction of the sun, so this allows very unusual lighting.

I think it’s a fantastic tool to explore small ridges and domes.

Here is an example with the crater Archimedes. The light comes from the north, which reveals a small ridge that would be difficult to detect otherwise:

 

 

Link to the Quikmap page: https://quickmap.lro...CB5EQKA&proj=10

 

Here is another example with a portion of the straight wall, and the same parameters:

 

 

Link: https://quickmap.lro...CB5EQKA&proj=10

 

 

The following example is located to the north of Montes Appenninus:

 

 

At the center of the image, it seems there is a huge circular dome. I’ve not verified if this structure is known.

Link: https://quickmap.lro...CB5EQKA&proj=10

 

 

We can activate a second layer to add colors according to the height of the terrain. This is the "TerrainHeight" layer, also inside the "ACT Terrain: dynamic DTM" group. We can choose the palette, and the range of heights covered. Reducing opacity allows to superpose the previous layer:

 

 

Here the dome becomes apparent.
Link: https://quickmap.lro...iNFk-kA&proj=10

 

 

We can also add contours lines (see the green icon at the bottom of this image):

 

 

This time, the dome is confirmed.

 

 

Finally, my preferred feature is the 3D "projection" combined with the "TerrainHillshade" layer. I can spend hours flying above the moon
However this requires a lot of processor and graphic calculations, so perhaps it is not usable on old or small devices.
Here is a view of Vallis Alpes:

 

 

link: https://quickmap.lro...IHkRAoA&proj=22

Jean-Charles

Edited by JCB, 27 March 2025 - 08:33 PM.

[scottinash]

Nice quick reference tutorial on very helpful/useful options, Jean-Charles, thank you.

[PKDfan]

This is wonderful knowledge your sharing Jean-Charles !

THANKS very much !!


Clearest Steady Skies
Lance

[Tychocrater]

Very nice demo of creative illumination capabilities of LROC Quickmap!

The new Extreme Illumination Atlas of the Moon by Maurice Collins and me (Chuck Wood) consists of digital altimetry data visualized as images illuminated at 0.1° above the horizontal and from different directions: N, S, E, W. Our images of Archimedes (Plate 24) and the big dome in front of the Apennines (Plate 23 and page 174) are well-shown with the extreme-grazing illumination (with no shadows). Maurice used LTVT to generate our images. 

[scottinash]

I have been thoroughly enjoying my new copy of Extreme Illumination Atlas of the Moon!  

Edited by scottinash, 29 March 2025 - 04:50 PM.

[JCB]

The new Extreme Illumination Atlas of the Moon by Maurice Collins and me (Chuck Wood) consists of digital altimetry data visualized as images illuminated at 0.1° above the horizontal and from different directions: N, S, E, W.

Welcome to this forum Chuck!
I’m also interested in your book of course.

Jean-Charles

[macpurity]

There is nothing like exploring the features of LROC and discovering new visualizations of the Moon. Great post, JCB.

 

At the risk of beating my own drum, The Detailed Topographic Lunar Atlases (DTLA) are now available through the Oculum website, in the E-book section. Although you can’t tweak the charts in the DTLA, you can zoom-in, thus revealing incredible details. Yet another resource that some may find valuable.

[CHnuschti]

At the center of the image, it seems there is a huge circular dome. I’ve not verified if this structure is known.

Link: https://quickmap.lro...CB5EQKA&proj=10

In the GLR list it is listed as "Eratosthenes 2", an "unverified" dome.

 

But indeed it looks dome like, and of considerable size, as the NASA preview for this night predicts.

 

regards