Another was a water balloon bursting directly overhead, but that would have to be one HUGE water balloon to make a spray pattern that fine.

A final ‘other’ thing this reminded me of was aurora. Sure, we all know about the shimmering curtain-like aurora that most people think of, but occassionally, when one of those ‘curtains’ is directly overhead, portions of it look a little bit like this pic, with streaks appearing to radiate from (or disappear into) a distant vanishing point. (I’ve actually used the water balloon imagery to describe the effect to people who missed the events.)

Electrostatic Erosion Mechanisms on the Moon

Electrostatic Erosion Mechanisms on the Moon
P. D. Grannis

Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University Ithaca, New York

The electrostatic processes which have been suggested by Gold as being responsible for erosion of the lunar features are evaluated. The statistics of the charge build-up on the grains of lunar dust due to the solar gas streams are considered. On the basis of the derived probability distribution for grain charge, the electrostatic hopping effect is shown to result in an erosion rate which is lower by a factor of at least 102 than that rate indicated by observations of the moon. It is found that, owing to the supporting action of the electronic space charge, positively charged dust grains may be levitated above the surface. The mass transport resulting from the ‘downhill’ gliding of such levitated grains may be sufficient to explain observed lunar erosion.

Received 5 August 1961; .

Citation: Grannis, P. D. (1961), Electrostatic Erosion Mechanisms on the Moon, J. Geophys. Res., 66(12), 4293–4299, doi:10.1029/JZ066i012p04293.

Source : http://www.agu.org/journals/ABS/1961/JZ066i012p04293.shtml

& from here :

http://www.space.com/8744-sun-stirred-lunar-dust-wear-moon-machines.html

The idea is that sunlight striking the lunar soil strips some molecules of their electrons, “ionizing” them and imparting a positive electrical charge. Since like charges repeal, the dust particles push away from each other, with some lofting as far as tens of kilometers above the moon’s surface.

On the dark side of the moon, electrons get dumped by the solar wind and likewise generate such lunar “dust fountains.” At the terminator, or the line between night and day, these opposite charges should also cause a flow of dust, Murphy said, affording dust another avenue to foul equipment.

This link to an article on the Lunar Dust Fountains :

http://www.space.com/8715-mysterious-moon-light-glowing-dust-fountains.html

Provides more info on this phenomenon too.

@13. mike burkhart :

Yes it does look like a flower maybe there’s flower power on the Moon. Peace man! Ok enough of the 60′s stuff. Before the space age and the Apollo landings many Astronomers thought there would be no erosion on the Moon after all there is no wind (air) or water on the Moon , witch are the two bigest causes of erosion on Earth. But it is now known that there is erosion on the moon caused by Solar wind and gravity. The erosion on the Moon is slower then erosion on Earth. [Emphasis addded.]

True but (unless you’re including them under gravity which is a bit of a stretch) you forgot to note micrometeorite impacts which are perhaps the most important lunar weathering processes there. Apparently electrostatically raised dust is a significant factor too, If I Recall Right.

What a blooming great crater and image. Very different and splendid.

let me guess, that smaller one is only two meters wide?
Thats no moon…

So you’ve been “mooned”?

Seriously, I love the variety of styles for impact craters. The moon has an interesting history all its own.

And as a wise critter once said, “That’s all right, he can call me a flower if he wants to.”

If we ever go back.

“Over time – lots and lots of time – erosion will take its toll. The solar wind, micrometeorite impacts, even thermal stress from the Moon’s day/night cycle, all will weather away this crater. The blanket will fade, the crater features will dull, and eventually it will look like the countless other 100-meter-wide holes in the Moon.”

So this is a more recent crater?
Facinating! I wonder what the surface view would be like here…..