Vallis Schroteri

Schröter’s Valley, the largest sinuous rille on the Moon, beginning near the crater Herodotus.

Visual Description

Vallis Schroteri appeared as a dramatic winding valley in the Aristarchus plateau region, starting with the distinctive “Cobra Head” feature near crater Herodotus and meandering northward for 168 km. The rille showed a characteristic sinuous path with varying width, typical of lunar sinuous rilles formed by ancient lava channels. The valley floor appeared darker than the surrounding plateau, and the feature was most prominent when near the terminator due to the shadows cast by its walls.

Notable Features

• Largest sinuous rille on the Moon
• Distinctive “Cobra Head” starting feature
• Meanders for 168 km across Aristarchus plateau
• Varies in width along its length
• Ancient lava channel formation

Notes

• Named after German astronomer Johann Schröter
• Classic example of lunar volcanic rille
• Best observed 10-12 days after new moon
• Coordinates: 26.2°N, 50.8°W
• Challenging target requiring good optics and seeing