Von Kármán (lunar crater)

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Crater characteristics
Coordinates	44.8° S, 175.9° E
Diameter	180 km
Depth	Unknown
Colongitude	188° at sunrise
Eponym	Theodore von Kármán

Von Kármán is a lunar crater that is located in the southern hemisphere on the far side of the Moon. The northern third of this formation is overlaid by the rim and outer rampart of the Leibnitz walled-basin, forming a deep indeptation in the formation. The remainder of the outer wall is roughly circular in shape, although it is irregular and heavily worn by subsequent impacts.

The interior of Von Kármán has been subjected to flooding by lava flows after the original crater formed, leaving the southern portion of the floor nearly flat. This surface has a lower albedo than the surrounding terrain, and is nearly as dark as the interior of the Leibnitz basin. There is a central peak at the location where the midpoint of the original Von Kármán crater was formed, which joins with the rougher surface in the northern part of the crater.

In addition to Leibnitz to the north, the Oresme crater is located to the west-northwest, and Finsen crater lies to the northeast on the edge of the Leibnitz rim. Nearly attached to the southeast rim is the unusual figure-8 'Van Kármán L' formation. Directly to the east of this is the Alder crater.

[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 Von Kármán crater.

Von Kármán	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
L	47.7° S	177.9° E	29 km
M	47.2° S	176.2° E	225 km
R	45.8° S	170.8° E	28 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.