Messier A and B As Seen by Lunar Orbiter 5

According to Wikipedia: Messier is a relatively young lunar impact crater located on the Mare Fecunditatis. The crater has a discernible oblong shape that is not caused by foreshortening. The longer dimension is oriented in an east-west direction. Just to the west lies Messier A, a similar-sized crater with an oblong, doublet form. The longer dimension of this crater is oriented north-south, at right angles to Messier. This crater also has a curved bulge extending to the west. Messier A and B were photographed at high resolution by NASA’s Lunar Orbiter V spacecraft In August of 1967. The oblique angle view is the best available view of the craters.

This newly retrieved high resolution image, frame 5041_H3, was taken by Lunar Orbiter 5 on 10 August 1967 at 16:11 GMT LPI reference. Images: [large at LOIRP] [Very Large at NASA NLSI] Note: the large line arcing across this image is a photographic processing artifact that occurred during automated film processing in lunar orbit.

This newly retrieved high resolution image, frame 5041_H2, was taken by Lunar Orbiter 5 on 10 August 1967 at 16:11 GMT LPI reference. Images: [large at LOIRP] [Very Large at NASA NLSI]

This newly retrieved high resolution image, frame 5041_H1, was taken by Lunar Orbiter 5 on 10 August 1967 at 16:11 GMT LPI reference. Images: [large at LOIRP] [Very Large at NASA NLSI]