Capella (crater)
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 Apollo 16 image | |
| Coordinates | 7°36′S 34°54′E / 7.6°S 34.9°E |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 49 km |
| Depth | 3,5 km |
| Colongitude | 325° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Martianus Capella |
Capella is a lunar impact crater 49 km (30 mi) in diameter that lies to the north of the Mare Nectaris, in a rugged region with many small impact craters. It was named after Roman astronomer Martianus Capella.[1] It intrudes slightly into the eastern rim of the crater Isidorus, a feature only slightly smaller in diameter.
The wall of Capella is low but relatively thick and irregular, with a large promontory intruding on the south-eastern side. The crater is crossed by a deep rift, the Vallis Capella, which passes directly through Capella from the north rim through the southeast side of the wall, and extends out both sides for a combined distance of 110 kilometers. This feature was formed by a chain of craters. In the middle of the crater is a wide, round peak with a craterlet at the top. The western side of the crater is dotted with impact debris, forming clusters of small hills.
Satellite craters
[edit]By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Capella.
| Capella | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 7.6° S | 37.2° E | 13 km |
| B | 9.4° S | 36.8° E | 10 km |
| C | 5.7° S | 36.3° E | 11 km |
| D | 6.7° S | 37.6° E | 8 km |
| E | 7.5° S | 37.7° E | 16 km |
| F | 9.2° S | 35.4° E | 14 km |
| G | 6.8° S | 36.9° E | 12 km |
| H | 8.1° S | 37.4° E | 9 km |
| J | 9.4° S | 36.0° E | 9 km |
| M | 4.4° S | 37.0° E | 12 km |
| R | 6.0° S | 35.2° E | 7 km |
| T | 6.9° S | 34.2° E | 6 km |
References
[edit]- ^ "Capella (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
- Andersson, L. E.; Whitaker, E. A. (1982). NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature. NASA RP-1097.
- Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
- Cocks, Elijah E.; Cocks, Josiah C. (1995). Who's Who on the Moon: A Biographical Dictionary of Lunar Nomenclature. Tudor Publishers. ISBN 978-0-936389-27-1.
- McDowell, Jonathan (July 15, 2007). "Lunar Nomenclature". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
- 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. S2CID 122125855.
- Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
- Price, Fred W. (1988). The Moon Observer's Handbook. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-33500-3.
- Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 978-0-913135-17-4.
- Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3.
- Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
- Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 978-1-85233-193-1.
External links
[edit]
- Lunar Photo of the Day, "Land of Manna", October 5, 2006, showing the region around Capella and discussing Capella Valley
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