Geologic Exploration of Taurus-Littrow: Apollo 17 Landing Site

W.R. Muehlberger; R. M. Batson; E.A. Cernan; V. L. Freeman; M.H. Haitt; H. E. Holt; Keith A. Howard; K.B. Jackson; V.S. Larson; J.J. Reed; J. J. Rennilson; H.H. Schmitt

doi:10.1126/science.182.4113.672

USGS · 70198190

Geologic Exploration of Taurus-Littrow: Apollo 17 Landing Site

W.R. Muehlberger·R. M. Batson·E.A. Cernan·V. L. Freeman·M.H. Haitt·H. E. Holt·Keith A. Howard·K.B. Jackson·V.S. Larson·J.J. Reed·J. J. Rennilson·H.H. Schmitt

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Abstract

Apollo 17 landed in a deep graben valley embaying the mountainous highlands southeast of the Serenitatis basin. Impact-generated breccias underlie the massifs adjacent to the valley, and basalt has flooded and leveled the valley floor. The dark mantle inferred from orbital photographs was not recognized as a discrete unit; the unusually thick regolith of the valley floor contains a unique high concentration of dark glass beads that may cause the low albedo of much of the surface.

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W.R. Muehlberger, R. M. Batson, E.A. Cernan, V. L. Freeman, M.H. Haitt, H. E. Holt, Keith A. Howard, K.B. Jackson, V.S. Larson, J.J. Reed, J. J. Rennilson, H.H. Schmitt. 1973. Geologic Exploration of Taurus-Littrow: Apollo 17 Landing Site. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.182.4113.672

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