From the scarp on Tsiolkovsky's rim to the floor of the ancient crater Fermi, where the landslide came to rest, the difference in elevation is about 3000 m. Here it is evident that the northwest rim of Tsiolkovsky is appreciably higher than the area where the landslide came to rest. The northern wall of Fermi is clearly recognizable as the very rugged south-facing slope near and parallel to the top edge of the stereogram. For easier reference part of the rim crest of Tsiolkovsky has been marked with a heavy dashed line. The heavy straight lines across the slide locate the three topographic profiles shown below the map.
Profiles are another method of portraying topographic information.
On two of the profiles the lower edge or toe of the landslide has been marked with an arrow. Because the landslide is topographically a rather subtle feature, the vertical scale of the profiles has been exaggerated by a factor of 5 to show the configuration of the slide more clearly. Like many other large, young craters it has an outer field of secondary crater clusters and chains, an extensive inner blanket of bright ejecta, bright and rugged walls, a flat floor partly occupied by dark mare material, and a central peak complex. However, in several respects Aitken differs from other craters of comparable age and size. The shock may well have destroyed the preexisting terraces and caused the additional slumping that gives the rim crest its crenulated appearance.