Lassell (lunar crater)

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Crater characteristics
Coordinates 15.5° S, 7.9° W
Diameter 23 km
Depth 0.9 km
Colongitude   8° at sunrise
Eponym William Lassell

Lassell is a small lunar crater that is located in the eastern part of the Mare Nubium. It lies to the west of the Alpetragius crater, and southwest of the Alphonsus walled-basin.

The interior of Lassell crater has been flooded and resurfaced by lava, leaving a nearly flat surface with a low remaining outer rim. The surface has a low albedo, giving the interior a dark appearance. The surviving outer wall is generally circular but with a somewhat polygonal shape.

To the east-northeast is a circular, bowl-shaped crater designated 'Lassell B'. This formation has a higher albedo than its surroundings and so appears relatively bright, especially at high sun angles.

The tiny crater 'Lassell D' is located to the west-northwest of Lassell, about half way toward the ruined Guericke crater. This craterlet is surrounded by a patch of high albedo surface, and is an example of a prominent lunar bright patch. The light hue is thought to be an indication of recent formation, at least in lunar geologic terms.

[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 Lassell crater.

Lassell Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 16.8° S 6.8° W 3 km
B 16.1° S 7.7° W 4 km
C 14.7° S 9.3° W 9 km
D 14.5° S 10.5° W 2 km
E 18.2° S 10.2° W 5 km
F 17.1° S 12.5° W 5 km
G 14.8° S 9.0° W 7 km
H 14.5° S 11.2° W 5 km
J 14.8° S 10.4° W 4 km
K 15.1° S 8.9° W 4 km
M 14.2° S 8.8° W 3 km
S 18.2° S 8.5° W 4 km
T 17.1° S 8.8° W 2 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.