Daedalus (crater)
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| Crater characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 5.9° S, 179.4° E |
| Diameter | 93 km |
| Depth | 3.0 km |
| Colongitude | 181° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Daedalus |
Daedalus is a prominent crater located near the center of the far side of the Moon. The inner wall is terraced, and there is a cluster of central peaks on the relatively flat floor. Because of its location (shielded from radio emissions from the Earth), it has been proposed as the site of a future giant radio telescope, which would be scooped out of the crater itself, much like the Arecibo radio telescope, but on a vastly larger scale.
The crater is pictured in famous photographs taken by the Apollo 11 astronauts. In contemporary sources it was called "Crater 308" (this was a temporary IAU designation that preceded the establishment of far-side lunar nomenclature).
Nearby craters of note include Icarus to the east and Racah to the south. Less than a crater diameter to the north-northeast is Lipskiy crater.
[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 Daedalus crater.
| Daedalus | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 4.1° S | 179.8° W | 23 km |
| C | 4.1° S | 178.9° W | 68 km |
| G | 6.6° S | 177.4° W | 33 km |
| K | 8.3° S | 178.5° W | 24 km |
| M | 8.1° S | 179.5° E | 13 km |
| R | 7.7° S | 175.2° E | 41 km |
| S | 6.8° S | 172.9° E | 20 km |
| U | 4.2° S | 174.9° E | 30 km |
| W | 3.5° S | 177.5° E | 70 km |
[edit] References
- Graham-Rowe, Duncan (January 3, 2002). Astronomers plan telescope on Moon (English). New Scientist. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
- See the reference table for the general listing of literature and web sites that were used in the compilation of this page.
