Philolaus (crater)

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Crater characteristics
Location of Philolaus crater.
Coordinates	72.1° N, 32.4° W
Diameter	70 km
Depth	3.4 km
Colongitude	30° at sunrise
Eponym	Philolaus

Philolaus is a lunar impact crater that is located in the northern part of the Moon's near side. It lies within one crater diameter to the east-southeast of the flooded Anaximenes crater, and to the west of the smaller Anaxagoras crater. It overlays the older and heavily worn 'Philolaus C' to the south.

This crater retains a well-defined form that has not changed significantly since it was originally created. The outer rim edge is roughly circular, but with a somewhat irregular edge that displays signs of slumping. The most notable slum is a triangular area along the eastern rim. The inner wall of the crater has a complex system of terraces with a sharp-edged rim in locations where slumping has occurred. On the exterior of the rim is an outer rampart that extends outward nearly half a crater diameter in all directions.

The interior floor is irregular with rough areas about the center and to the northeast. There is no single central peak, but rather a pair of peaks offset to the south and the east of the middle. There is also a smaller ridge pair offset to the northwest. The flattest part of the interior floor is in the northeast of the crater interior. The floor is not significantly marked by impacts.

[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 Philolaus crater.

Philolaus	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
B	69.6° N	24.3° W	11 km
C	71.1° N	32.7° W	95 km
D	73.9° N	27.8° W	91 km
E	69.6° N	18.7° W	12 km
F	68.1° N	18.3° W	8 km
G	69.0° N	23.6° W	95 km
U	75.0° N	33.0° W	13 km
W	75.6° N	35.9° W	17 km