Geologic Map of the Alphonsus Region of the Moon

This 1:250,000- scale geologic map is one of a series prepared largely from photographs transmitted by Ranger IX (reproduced in a report by Jet Propulsion Lab., 1966). It depicts the geology of the crater Alphonsus (in which Ranger IX impacted) and environs. The primary objective of the mapping was to apply extant lunar mapping techniques used on relatively small scale telescopic photographs to the larger scale Ranger photographs, in preparation for extensive analysis of Lunar Orbiter photography in support of the Apollo program. An additional objective was to shed more light on the formation of Alphonsus and its associated features. The map outlines rock units that are inferred from surface features and characteristics, such as topography and albedo. Each rock unit is assigned an age and arranged in the explanation so that the youngest unit are at the top and the oldest at the bottom. The age classification is based on the early work of Shoemaker and Hackman (1962), and subsequent revisions reported by McCauley (1967) and Wilhelms (1966). Geology of the region has been mapped at a scale of 1:1,000,000 on the basis of Earth-based photographs and observations (Howard and Masursky, 1968). A more detailed, 1;50,000-scale map of part of the Alphonsus floor was prepared by McCauley (1969), who used Ranger IX photographs as his source of geologic information.