COBRA HEAD

26.0N by 51.0W

LUNAR TRANSIENT PHENOMENA

HISTORY

BY

DAVID O. DARLING

"Perhaps the most remarkable feature in this very remarkable region of the Moon's Schroter's Valley or more properly Vallis Schroteri. This is the Moon largest sinuous rille, originating at its southernmost end at a deep crater known as the Cobra's Head and winding on for over 160 km  to the western corner of the Aristarchus plateau. The impression is that it was created by a river of lava erupting from the Cobra's Head and cutting its way along a winding path to lower ground. Most lunar experts think that this was indeed, what happened." Observing the Moon The modern astronomer's guide by Gerald North.

It should be pointed out that this feature does not officially show up on lunar maps. There are many references to the formation by its given name in conjunction with Schroter's Valley. This name has been given to this feature due to appearance  of looking like the head of a snake to lunar observers.

"The largest sinuous valley on the Moon, named after the German selenographer Johannes Schroter. The valley starts 25 km north of the crater Herodotus, and resembles a dry river bed with numerous meanders. Starting at a crater 6 km in diameter, the valley widens to 10 km to form a shape that observers have called the 'Cobra's Head' . From this it gradually narrows to 500 m and, still narrowing, terminates at a 1000 m high precipice on the edge of a tetragonal 'continent'. The total length of this flat-floored valley is 160 km and its maximum depth is about 1000 m. Another sinuous rille on the floor of the valley cannot be seen from the Earth." Hamlyn Atlas Of The Moon by Antonin Rukl.

Apollo 15 Metric Camera

Photograph shown below was taken using my 12.5 F 5 Newtonian reflector, with 12.5mm eyepiece and 2x Barlow. Using digital still camera DSC-P71 mounted for eyepiece projection. The photograph was taken on April 3. 2004 at 1:20 U.T.

Photograph © 2004 by David O. Darling, Director L.T.P. Research

To view the cobra Head under different lighting conditions see drawings Aristarchus, Herodotus, and Schroter's Valley