Geminus (crater)
|
Lunar Orbiter 4 image | |
| Coordinates | 34°30′N 56°42′E / 34.5°N 56.7°ECoordinates: 34°30′N 56°42′E / 34.5°N 56.7°E |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 86 km |
| Depth | 5.4 km |
| Colongitude | 304° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Geminus |
Geminus is a lunar impact crater that is located near the northeast limb of the visible Moon. In this position the crater appears oval in shape due to foreshortening, but it is actually more nearly circular in form. Notable nearby craters include Messala to the northeast, Bernoulli due east, and Burckhardt and Cleomedes to the south.
The circular rim of Geminus contain a number of outward notches, particularly to the north and east. The crater ejecta is still visible in the rough surroundings beyond the rim, but any rays deposited during the impact have long since been worn away by space weathering. The inner wall is wide and extensively terraced, although these features are now somewhat muted due to impact erosion. There are no notable impacts on the interior floor, but there is a long, slender central ridge located at the midpoint and a pair of readily observed clefts.
Satellite craters
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Geminus.
| Geminus | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 31.5° N | 51.8° E | 15 km |
| B | 34.2° N | 52.3° E | 10 km |
| C | 33.9° N | 58.7° E | 16 km |
| D | 30.6° N | 47.4° E | 16 km |
| E | 33.5° N | 48.5° E | 67 km |
| F | 32.1° N | 51.1° E | 22 km |
| G | 30.8° N | 48.6° E | 14 km |
| H | 31.6° N | 48.9° E | 15 km |
| M | 31.9° N | 48.5° E | 11 km |
| N | 31.4° N | 47.7° E | 24 km |
| W | 34.3° N | 47.4° E | 6 km |
| Z | 30.7° N | 46.7° E | 26 km |
References
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- Blue, Jennifer (July 25, 2007). "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature". USGS. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
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- Menzel, D. H.; Minnaert, M.; Levin, B.; Dollfus, A.; Bell, B. (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by the Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews. 12 (2): 136–186. Bibcode:1971SSRv...12..136M. doi:10.1007/BF00171763.
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