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.