Nansen (lunar crater)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Crater characteristics
Location of Nansen crater as viewed from above the northern pole of the Moon.
Coordinates	80.9° N, 95.3° E
Diameter	104 km
Depth	Unknown
Colongitude	275° at sunrise
Eponym	Fridtjof Nansen

Nansen is an old lunar crater along the northern limb of the Moon, on the eastern side of the north pole. This feature is viewed from the edge from the Earth, and it must be observed from orbit to see much detail. When brought into view during a favorable libration, this formation can be located by finding Baillaud crater, then following the surface upward toward the limb.

This formation has been heavily worn and eroded by minor impacts, leaving an irregular outer wall that is marked by multiple small craters and indentations. A small crater lies across the northern rim of Nanse, and a similar formation is located along the inner southern wall. A merged chain of tiny craters lies across the eastern rim.

The interior floor of Nansen is more hummocky and irregular in the northern half, while the southern part of the floor is relatively level. There is a small, bowl-shaped crater in the southeast part of the floor, and many tiny craterlets lie across the interior and along the inner walls.