Fracastorius (crater)

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Crater Fracastorius photographed by Eric S. Kounce of the West Texas Astronomers (www.wtastro.org) on October 28, 2006 utilizing the 36-inch Telescope at McDonald Observatory near Ft. Davis, Texas.

Fracastorius is the lava-flooded remnant of an ancient lunar impact crater located at the southern edge of Mare Nectaris. To the northwest of this formation lies the Beaumont crater, while to the northeast is Rosse.

The northern wall of this crater is missing, with only mounds appearing in the lunar mare to mark the outline. The lava that formed Mare Nectaris also invaded this crater, so the structure now forms a bay-like extension. The remainder of the rim is heavily worn and covered in lesser impact craters, leaving little of the original rim intact. The maximum elevation of the rim is 2.4 km. The most prominent of these craters is 'Fractastorius D', which overlays a portion of the western rim.

The Fracastorius crater has no central peak, but a long, slender rille runs across the middle of the floor in a generally east-west direction.

[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 Fracastorius crater.

[edit] References

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

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