Astronomy Picture of the Day [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2026 January 15 [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest resolution version available. Plato and the Lunar Alps Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Luigi Morrone Explanation: The dark-floored, 95 kilometer wide crater Plato and sunlit peaks of the [5]lunar Alps (Montes Alpes) are highlighted in this [6]this sharp telescopic snapshot of the Moon's surface. While the [7]Alps of planet Earth were uplifted over millions of years as continental plates slowly collided, the lunar Alps were likely formed by a sudden collision that created the giant [8]impact basin known as the [9]Mare Imbrium or Sea of Rains. The mare's generally smooth, lava-flooded floor is seen below the bordering mountain range. The prominent straight feature cutting through the mountains is the [10]lunar Alpine Valley (Vallis Alpes). Joining the Mare Imbrium and northern Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold) the valley extends toward the upper right, about 160 kilometers long and up to 10 kilometers wide. Of course, the large, bright [11]lunar alpine mountain below and right of Plato crater is named [12]Mont Blanc. Lacking an atmosphere, not to mention [13]snow, the lunar Alps are probably not an ideal location for a winter [14]vacation. Still, a 150 pound skier [15]would weigh a mere 25 pounds [16]on the Moon. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space __________________________________________________________________ [17]< | [18]Archive | [19]Submissions | [20]Index | [21]Search | [22]Calendar | [23]RSS | [24]Education | [25]About APOD | [26]Discuss | [27]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [28]Robert Nemiroff ([29]MTU) & [30]Jerry Bonnell ([31]UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn [32]Specific rights apply. [33]NASA Web Privacy, [34]Accessibility, [35]Notices; A service of: [36]ASD at [37]NASA / [38]GSFC, [39]NASA Science Activation & [40]Michigan Tech. U. References 1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2601/2025-12-29-1656_Plato_Lmorr.jpg 3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 4. https://app.astrobin.com/u/Luigi_morrone_1979#gallery 5. https://lroc.im-ldi.com/images/714 6. https://app.astrobin.com/u/Luigi_morrone_1979?i=okquoj#gallery 7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alps 8. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/orbiter/lunar_orbiter/impact_basin/ 9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap001228.html 10. https://lroc.im-ldi.com/images/55 11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Blanc_(Moon) 12. https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/mt-blanc-3620/ 13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap050224.html 14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap010713.html 15. http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/index.html 16. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/artemis/ 17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260114.html 18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html 20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html 21. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search 22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 23. https://apod.com/feed.rss 24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html 25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html 26. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260115 27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260116.html 28. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html 29. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/ 30. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html 31. http://www.astro.umd.edu/ 32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 33. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html 34. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/ 35. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/ 36. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 37. https://www.nasa.gov/ 38. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/ 39. https://science.nasa.gov/learners 40. http://www.mtu.edu/