Capella (crater)

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Crater characteristics
Capella (right) and Isidorus (center) from Apollo 16. NASA photo.
Coordinates	7.6° S, 34.9° E
Diameter	49 km
Depth	Unknown
Colongitude	325° at sunrise
Eponym	Martianus Capella

Capella is a lunar crater 49 km (30 miles) in diameter that lies to the north of the Mare Nectaris, in a rugged region with many small impact craters. It intrudes slightly into the eastern rim of Isidorus crater, a feature only slightly smaller in diameter.

The Capella crater wall is low but relatively thick and irregular, with a large promontory intruding on the south-eastern side. The crater is crossed by a deep rift, the Vallis Capella, which passes directly through the Capella crater from the north rim through the southeast side of the wall, and extends out both sides for a combined distance of 110 kilometers. This feature was formed by a chain of craters. In the middle of the crater is a wide, round peak with a craterlet at the top. The western side of the crater is dotted with impact debris, forming clusters of small hills.

[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 Capella crater.

Capella	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	7.6° S	37.2° E	13 km
B	9.4° S	36.8° E	10 km
C	5.7° S	36.3° E	11 km
D	6.7° S	37.6° E	8 km
E	7.5° S	37.7° E	16 km
F	9.2° S	35.4° E	14 km
G	6.8° S	36.9° E	12 km
H	8.1° S	37.4° E	9 km
J	9.4° S	36.0° E	9 km
M	4.4° S	37.0° E	12 km
R	6.0° S	35.2° E	7 km
T	6.9° S	34.2° E	6 km

[edit] References

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• Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 1852331933.