Rille / ˈrɪl / [1] (German for 'groove') is typically used to describe any of the long, narrow depressions in the surface of the Moon that resemble channels. The Latin term is rima, plural rimae. Typically, a rille can be several kilometers wide and hundreds of kilometers in length.

Rille, any of various valleys or trenches on the surface of the Moon. The term was introduced by early telescopic observers—probably by the German astronomer Johann Schroeter—to denote such lunar features. The word rima (from Latin, ‘fissure’) …

Hadley Rille, valley on the Moon, typical of the class of features known as sinuous rilles, which are believed to be ancient lava flow channels. The feature was a primary site of exploration for the Apollo 15 lunar-landing mission.

Mar 14, 2025 · Rilles are lunar valleys or trenches that can stretch for hundreds of kilometers. There are three main types of rilles: sinuous, arcuate, and linear. Sinuous rilles are winding channels that resemble river valleys on Earth. Arcuate rilles are curved and often found near the edges of lunar maria.

Apr 17, 2017 · A rille is a long and narrow valley on the Moon and appears to have been formed by subsidence or collapse of surface materials along a crustal fracture (Baldwin 1968), which could be ascribed to the thermal and mechanical erosion, construction, and volatiles between the basement surface and a surficial permafrost layer (Cameron 1964, Quaide ...

Oct 2, 2010 · First discovered over 200 years ago with a small telescope, rilles (rhymes with pills) appear all over the Moon. Three types of rilles are now recognized: sinuous rilles, which have many meandering curves, arcuate rilles which form sweeping arcs, and straight rilles, like Ariadaeus Rille pictured above.

Lunar Rille Rima Sharp on the Moon's near side is a rille—German for the "groove." This particular type of rille, a sinuous rille, is thought to have formed as the result of lava flows or collapsed lava tubes.

rille (ril) ( rima ) Either of two distinct types of elongated lunar depression (see table). Sinuous rilles are confined to the maria, where they follow local contours, are frequently discontinuous (or consist of rows of coalescing craters), and have V-shaped cross sections.

Jan 1, 2014 · The term rille was introduced by Johann Hieronymus Schröter in German (“groove”). Initially it was kept in its original form as a technical term (“rille”) and has been translated to English as groove or furrow (Beer and Mädler 1838).

There are three main types: straight (or linear) rilles which appear to be graben, where the surface has dropped between two parallel faults; arcuate rilles, which are similar but curved in plan view, and often concentric with a circular mare basin; and …