Firmicus (crater)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Crater characteristics
Coordinates	7.3° N, 63.4° E
Diameter	56 km
Depth	1.5 km
Colongitude	297° at sunrise
Eponym	Firmicus Maternus

Firmicus is a lunar crater that lies in the eastern part of the Moon's near side, so that from Earth it appears oval in shape due to foreshortening. It is, however, very nearly circular. The crater is located to the west of the Mare Undarum, and northeast of the similar-sized Apollonius crater. To the north of Firmicus are van Albada and Auzout craters. Attached to its northwest rim is the Lacus Perseverantiae, a miniature lunar mare.

The most notable aspect of Firmicus is the dark, flat floor. It has a similar albedo to the surface of Mare Crisium to the north, making it stand out somewhat from its surroundings. The floor has suffered no significant impacts since it was created, although there are undoubtedly many minor impacts across its surface. The outer rim of Firmicus has undergone some erosion, particularly along the northern rim where it is overlaid by a pair of small craterlets.

[edit] Lacus Perseverantiae

This is a small lunar mare extends westward from the northwestern exterior of Firmicus crater, with smaller extensions to the northeast and northwest at the eastern terminus. Its name is latin for "Lake of Persistence". The selenographic coordinates are 8.0° N, 62.0° E, and it has a length of 70 km, but a maximum width of less than 15 km.

[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 Firmicus crater.

Firmicus	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	6.4° N	65.1° E	8 km
B	7.3° N	65.8° E	14 km
C	7.7° N	66.5° E	13 km
D	5.9° N	64.4° E	11 km
E	8.0° N	63.6° E	9 km
F	6.5° N	61.8° E	9 km
G	6.9° N	61.9° E	9 km
H	7.5° N	60.3° E	7 km
M	4.1° N	67.2° E	42 km