How to find a nice flat area to establish a Mun Base?

[Eleven]

So hard to just judge it from orbit. Anyone have coordinates?

[cxg2827]

if you have mapsat installed, you can use the plotted maps to see what areas look flat.

otherwise you can scout out the mun with a low altitude orbit probe (<20km)

[Commander Zoom]

Fortunately, someone has already done most of the work for you:

http://www.kerbalmaps.com/

Select the Mun, then the stack of three planes to select Slope view. Find a nice big patch of indigo with minimal purple specks (and no pink). Send a rocket there.

[Read have Read]

Just don't use a mini-rover with the Micro Wheels, everything looks like a hill when you are that small.

[Aphox]

Crater floors are pretty flat, to my experience.

[lyndonguitar]

I never knew it was that hard, on all my landing and bases, I just picked it randomly, it seemed flat to me

[DerekL1963]

if you have mapsat installed, you can use the plotted maps to see what areas look flat.

otherwise you can scout out the mun with a low altitude orbit probe (<20km)

You can also send a small lander to take a look-see.

[The Destroyer]

Craters and Mun arches.

[Tommygun]

This map may help, it is based on "ruggedness".

Ruggedness is how much change in elevation and how quickly it changes.

The darker the flatter it tends to be.

This is a good resource for this kind of thing too:

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/10088-Kerbin-Geographic-And-Science-Society

Edited May 23, 2013 by Tommygun

[Eleven]

Thanks for the KerbalMaps recommendation!

[Rage097]

The base of craters is probably a good place. They also come with the advantage of being near sea level so you can trust your altimeter.

[NeoMorph]

I swear that I have an infallible way of finding steep hills... Just make a tall lander with spindly legs. EVERY time I land I end up having to bounce back up again or doing a hail mary full throttle and hope the thing pulls up in time.

[Aeshi]

Failing that, you could try putting it on Minimus instead. That place has plenty of flat open areas.

[Vanamonde]

Send a rover first to scout locations. Park it with its headlights pointed at the patch of ground where you want to start your landings.