Heraclitus (crater)
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| Crater characteristics | |
| Coordinates | 49.2° S, 6.2° E |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 90 km |
| Depth | 3.8 km |
| Colongitude | 355° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Heraclitus |
Heraclitus is a complex lunar crater that lies in the rugged southern highlands of the Moon. Licetus crater forms the northern end of the formation. Just to the east is Cuvier crater, and due south is Lilius crater. Just to the west of Heraclitus is the small satellite crater 'Heraclitus K', to the south of which is a pair of larger overlapping craters, 'Lilius E' and Lilius D'.[1]
The entire formation is heavily worn, with features smoothed down by a long history of impacts. Heraclitus is a complex formation composed of three sections divided by a triple-armed interior ridge. Of the three sections, the most eroded and irregular is at the eastern end where the outer rim forms a low ridge that joins to Cuvier crater.[2]
The circular southwest end is the most intact section, forming the circular satellite crater 'Heraclitus D', which is attached to the other two sections along the northeast rim. There are a pair of ghost-crater rims on the floor, and a low ridge in the southwest.[2] The crater is 90 kilometers in diameter and 3.8 kilometers deep. It may be from the Pre-Imbrian period, which lasted from 4.55 to 3.85 billion years ago.[1]
It is named for 6th century BC Greek philosopher Heraclitus.[1]
[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 Heraclitus crater.[3]
| Heraclitus | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 49.3° S | 4.7° E | 6 km |
| C | 48.8° S | 6.3° E | 7 km |
| D | 50.4° S | 5.2° E | 52 km |
| E | 49.7° S | 6.7° E | 7 km |
| K | 49.5° S | 3.5° E | 17 km |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Autostar Suite Astronomer Edition. CD-ROM. Meade, April 2006.
- ^ a b Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 0-913135-17-8.
- ^ Bussey, B.; Spudis, P., (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-81528-2.
