Cone-shaped material flows on the Moon

Earth-like Talus cones in the crater of Pytheas.

Seen here are fluid flow of material on the Moon, in the young crater of Pytheas.

Material flowing down in the Pytheas crater. Image is about 600 meters across. Credit: NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)

The brighter, more fluid material flows above the darker material in an interior slope of Pytheas crater as a result of a landslide. Pytheas crater is one of the brightest spots in Mare Imbrium, indicating a young age.

The local topography shapes each flow and you see them finally spread into cone shapes downslope. Called Talus cones, these shapes are observed on Earth as well, at large scales!

Look closely at the featured image and you see that there isn't one but several flow layers stacked on top of each other. This is indicative of multiple landslides having occurred in the past at the region.

EXPLORE ON A MAP

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Know more about cone-shaped "talus" flows on the (amazing) LRO blog:

• Stratification in a Tranquil Sea

• A Tangle of Talus

• Pytheas

• Dawes