The lunar crater Giordano Bruno as seen with optical roughness imagery

Images acquired by the LRO NAC allow 3D phase-ratio imagery of several areas in the crater Giordano Bruno. This is a new optical, remote-sensing technique that allows a determination of the optical roughness of the lunar surface. Our study confirms complicated impact melt movement on the flanks and the floor of the crater. In many cases, however, flow structures seen on the inner wall can be attributed to regolith/debris taluses rather than impact melt flows. It was found that the whirlpool-like formation seen near the western side of the crater Giordano Bruno has a small central depression that can be interpreted as either a vortex cavity or a feature which resembles such a vortex formed by viscous flows coming from the crater flanks. We discuss several features that confirm the young age of the crater, concluding, however, that it was not formed within human history; its age is, likely, on the order of 1 My. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.