Birkhoff (crater)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Crater characteristics
Coordinates	58.7° N, 146.1° W
Diameter	345 km
Depth	Unknown
Colongitude	156° at sunrise
Eponym	George Birkhoff

Birkhoff is a giant lunar walled-plain that is located on the far side of the Moon, in the northern hemisphere. This formation is an ancient impact site that has been heavily eroded, and the surface reshaped by multiple craters in the interior and along the rim. The outer wall is bordered by Carnot crater to the south, Rowland crater along the west rim, and Stebbins crater to the north. Just to the northeast is the Van't Hoff crater.

What remains of the perimeter is now a rugged sloping rise along the inner wall, and the rim has been worn down until it is level with the irregular external terrain. The rim is pock-marked by small craters of various dimensions. Within the crater are several craters that are notable in their own right. Along the northwest inner rim is the eroded 'Birkhoff X', while due south in the southwest floor is 'Birkhoff Q'. The later is joined by a low ridge to the double crater formation of 'Birkhoff K' and 'L' in the eastern half of the crater. There are also the smaller but relatively young 'Birkhoff Y' and 'Z' in the northern interior. The remainder of the floor is flat in places, with rough sections and many tiny craterlets.

[edit] Satellite craters

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater mid-point that is closest to Birkhoff crater.

Birkhoff	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
K	57.8° N	144.3° W	58 km
L	56.6° N	144.8° W	37 km
M	54.7° N	144.8° W	23 km
Q	56.6° N	150.8° W	43 km
R	57.5° N	153.0° W	27 km
X	62.1° N	149.7° W	77 km
Y	59.9° N	146.6° W	25 km
Z	61.3° N	145.3° W	30 km

[edit] References

• See the reference table for the general listing of literature and web sites that were used in the compilation of this page.