List of features on the Moon
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The Moon's surface is covered in many interesting geological features. In addition to mountains, valleys, and craters, the following surface features have received names in the Lunar nomenclature. Many of these features are named after a nearby crater or mountain.
The listed diameter for these features is the longest dimension that contains the entire geological formation. The latitude and longitude are in selenographic coordinates.
Contents |
[edit] Albedo
These features are notable for their high albedo compared to the surrounding terrain.
| Name | Coordinates | Diameter | Name Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reiner Gamma | 70.0 km | After nearby Reiner crater |
Note: On the far side of the Moon there are unnamed albedo features on Mare Ingenii and Mare Marginis. These are located antipodal to the Mare Imbrium and Mare Orientale impact basins.
[edit] Catena
A Catena is a chain of craters.
| Name | Coordinates | Diameter | Name Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catena Abulfeda | 219 km | After nearby Abulfeda crater | |
| Catena Artamonov | 134 km | After nearby Artamonov crater | |
| Catena Brigitte | 5 km | French feminine name | |
| Catena Davy | 50 km | After nearby Davy crater | |
| Catena Dziewulski | 80 km | After nearby Dziewulski crater | |
| Catena Gregory | 152 km | After nearby Gregory crater | |
| Catena Humboldt | 165 km | After nearby Humboldt crater | |
| Catena Krafft | 60 km | After nearby Krafft crater | |
| Catena Kurchatov | 226 km | After nearby Kurchatov crater | |
| Catena Leuschner | 364 km | After nearby Leuschner crater | |
| Catena Littrow | 10 km | After nearby Littrow crater | |
| Catena Lucretius | 271 km | After nearby Lucretius crater | |
| Catena Mendeleev | 188 km | After nearby Mendeleev crater | |
| Catena Michelson | 456 km | After nearby Michelson crater | |
| Catena Pierre | 9 km | French masculine name | |
| Catena Sumner | 247 km | After nearby Sumner crater | |
| Catena Sylvester | 173 km | After nearby Sylvester crater | |
| Catena Taruntius | 100 km | After nearby Taruntius crater | |
| Catena Timocharis | 50 km | After nearby Timocharis crater | |
| Catena Yuri | 5 km | Russian masculine name |
[edit] Dorsa
These features are wrinkle-ridge systems commonly found on Lunar maria.
| Name | Coordinates | Dia. | Name Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorsa Aldrovandi | 136 km | Ulissi Aldrovandi (1522-1605) | |
| Dorsa Andrusov | 160 km | Nicolai Ivanovich Andrusov (1861-1924) | |
| Dorsa Argand | 109 km | Emile Argand (1879-1940) | |
| Dorsa Barlow | 120 km | William Barlow (1845-1934) | |
| Dorsa Burnet | 194 km | Thomas Burnet (1635-1715) | |
| Dorsa Cato | 140 km | Cato the Elder (234-149 B.C.) | |
| Dorsa Dana | 70 km | James Dwight Dana (1813-1895) | |
| Dorsa Ewing | 141 km | William Maurice Ewing (1906-1974) | |
| Dorsa Geikie | 228 km | Sir Archibald Geikie (1835-1924) | |
| Dorsa Harker | 197 km | Alfred Harker (1859-1939) | |
| Dorsa Lister | 203 km | Martin Lister (1639-1712) | |
| Dorsa Mawson | 132 km | Douglas Mawson (1882-1958) | |
| Dorsa Rubey | 100 km | William Walden Rubey (1898-1974) | |
| Dorsa Smirnov | 156 km | Sergei Sergeevich Smirnov (1895-1947) | |
| Dorsa Sorby | 80 km | Henry Clifton Sorby (1826-1908) | |
| Dorsa Stille | 80 km | Hans Stille (1876-1966) | |
| Dorsa Tetyaev | 176 km | Mikhail Mikhailovich Tetyaev (1882-1956) | |
| Dorsa Whiston | 85 km | William Whiston (1667-1752) |
[edit] Dorsum
These features are wrinkle-ridges commonly found on lunar maria.
[edit] Promontorium
These features form a cape or headland on a maria.
| Name | Coordinates | Dia. | Name Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promontorium Agarum | 70 km | Named from a cape in the Sea of Azov | |
| Promontorium Agassiz | 20 km | Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz (1807-1873) | |
| Promontorium Archerusia | 10 km | Named from a cape on the Black Sea | |
| Promontorium Deville | 20 km | Charles Joseph Sainte-Claire Deville (1814-1876) | |
| Promontorium Fresnel | 20 km | Augustin Jean Fresnel (1788-1827) | |
| Promontorium Heraclides | 50 km | Heraclides Ponticus | |
| Promontorium Kelvin | 50 km | William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin (1824-1907) | |
| Promontorium Laplace | 50 km | Pierre Simon Laplace (1749-1827) | |
| Promontorium Taenarium | 70 km | Named from cape in Greece[1] |
[edit] Rima
These features are lunar rilles.
| Name | Coordinates | Dia. | Name Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rima Agatharchides | 50 km | Named from nearby Agatharchides crater | |
| Rima Agricola | 110 km | Named from nearby Montes Agricola | |
| Rima Archytas | 90 km | Named from nearby Archytas crater | |
| Rima Ariadaeus | 250 km | Named from nearby Ariadaeus crater | |
| Rima Billy | 70 km | Named from nearby Billy crater | |
| Rima Birt | 50 km | Named from nearby Birt crater | |
| Rima Bradley | 161 km | Named from nearby Mons Bradley | |
| Rima Brayley | 311 km | Named from nearby Brayley crater | |
| Rima Calippus | 40 km | Named from nearby Calippus crater | |
| Rima Cardanus | 175 km | Named from nearby Cardanus crater | |
| Rima Carmen | 10 km | Spanish feminine name | |
| Rima Cauchy | 140 km | Named from nearby Cauchy crater | |
| Rima Cleomedes | 80 km | Within Cleomedes crater | |
| Rima Cleopatra | 14 km | Greek feminine name | |
| Rima Conon | 30 km | Named from nearby Conon crater | |
| Rima Dawes | 15 km | Named from nearby Dawes crater | |
| Rima Delisle | 60 km | Named from nearby Delisle crater | |
| Rima Diophantus | 150 km | Named from nearby Diophantus crater | |
| Rima Draper | 160 km | Named from nearby Draper crater | |
| Rima Euler | 90 km | Named from nearby Draper crater | |
| Rima Flammarion | 80 km | Named from nearby Flammarion crater | |
| Rima Furnerius | 50 km | Within Furnerius crater | |
| Rima G. Bond | 168 km | Named from nearby G. Bond crater | |
| Rima Galilaei | 89 km | Named from nearby Galilaei crater | |
| Rima Gärtner | 30 km | Within Gärtner crater | |
| Rima Gay-Lussac | 40 km | Named from nearby Gay-Lussac crater | |
| Rima Hadley | 80 km | Named from nearby Mons Hadley | |
| Rima Hansteen | 25 km | Named from nearby Hansteen crater | |
| Rima Hesiodus | 256 km | Named from nearby Hesiodus crater | |
| Rima Hyginus | 219 km | Named from nearby Hyginus crater | |
| Rima Jansen | 35 km | Named from nearby Jansen crater | |
| Rima Krieger | 22 km | Named from nearby Krieger crater | |
| Rima Mairan | 90 km | Named from nearby Mairan crater | |
| Rima Marcello | 2 km | Italian masculine name | |
| Rima Marius | 121 km | Named from nearby Marius crater | |
| Rima Messier | 100 km | Named from nearby Messier crater | |
| Rima Milichius | 100 km | Named from nearby Milichius crater | |
| Rima Oppolzer | 94 km | Named from nearby Oppolzer crater | |
| Rima Réaumur | 30 km | Named from nearby Réaumur crater | |
| Rima Reiko | 2 km | Japanese feminine name | |
| Rima Rudolf | 8 km | German masculine name | |
| Rima Schröter | 40 km | Named from nearby Schröter crater | |
| Rima Sharp | 107 km | Named from nearby Sharp crater | |
| Rima Sheepshanks | 200 km | Named from nearby Sheepshanks crater | |
| Rima Siegfried | 14 km | German masculine name | |
| Rima Suess | 165 km | Named from nearby Suess crater | |
| Rima Sung-Mei | 4 km | Chinese feminine name | |
| Rima T. Mayer | 50 km | Named from nearby T. Mayer crater | |
| Rima Vladimir | 14 km | Slavic masculine name | |
| Rima Wan-Yu | 12 km | Chinese feminine name | |
| Rima Yangel' | 30 km | Named from nearby Yangel' crater | |
| Rima Zahia | 16 km | Arabic feminine name |
[edit] Rimae
These features are lunar rille systems.
| Name | Coordinates | Dia. | Name Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rimae Alphonsus | 80 km | Within Alphonsus crater | |
| Rimae Apollonius | 230 km | Named from nearby Apollonius crater | |
| Rimae Archimedes | 169 km | Named from nearby Archimedes crater | |
| Rimae Aristarchus | 121 km | Named from nearby Aristarchus crater | |
| Rimae Arzachel | 50 km | Within Arzachel crater | |
| Rimae Atlas | 60 km | Within Atlas crater | |
| Rimae Bode | 70 km | Named from nearby Bode crater | |
| Rimae Boscovich | 40 km | Within Boscovich crater | |
| Rimae Chacornac | 120 km | Named from nearby Chacornac crater | |
| Rimae Daniell | 200 km | Named from nearby Daniell crater | |
| Rimae Darwin | 143 km | Named from nearby Darwin crater | |
| Rimae Doppelmayer | 162 km | Named from nearby Doppelmayer crater | |
| Rimae Focas | 100 km | Named from nearby Focas crater | |
| Rimae Fresnel | 90 km | Named from nearby Fresnel promontorium | |
| Rimae Gasparis | 93 km | Named from nearby De Gasparis crater | |
| Rimae Gassendi | 70 km | Within Gassendi crater | |
| Rimae Gerard | 100 km | Named from nearby Gerard crater | |
| Rimae Goclenius | 240 km | Named from nearby Goclenius crater | |
| Rimae Grimaldi | 230 km | Named from nearby Grimaldi crater | |
| Rimae Hypatia | 206 km | Named from nearby Hypatia crater | |
| Rimae Janssen | 114 km | Named from nearby Janssen crater | |
| Rimae Kopff | 41 km | Named from nearby Kopff crater | |
| Rimae Liebig | 140 km | Named from nearby Liebig crater | |
| Rimae Littrow | 115 km | Named from nearby Littrow crater | |
| Rimae Maclear | 110 km | Named from nearby Maclear crater | |
| Rimae Maestlin | 80 km | Named from nearby Maestlin crater | |
| Rimae Maupertuis | 84 km | Named from nearby Maupertuis crater | |
| Rimae Menelaus | 131 km | Named from nearby Menelaus crater | |
| Rimae Mersenius | 84 km | Named from nearby Mersenius crater | |
| Rimae Opelt | 70 km | Named from nearby Opelt crater | |
| Rimae Palmieri | 150 km | Named from nearby Palmieri crater | |
| Rimae Parry | 82 km | Named from nearby Parry crater | |
| Rimae Petavius | 80 km | Named from nearby Petavius crater | |
| Rimae Pettit | 450 km | Named from nearby Pettit crater | |
| Rimae Pitatus | 94 km | Named from nearby Pitatus crater | |
| Rimae Plato | 87 km | Named from nearby Plato crater | |
| Rimae Plinius | 124 km | Named from nearby Plinius crater | |
| Rimae Posidonius | 70 km | Named from nearby Posidonius crater | |
| Rimae Prinz | 80 km | Named from nearby Prinz crater | |
| Rimae Ramsden | 108 km | Named from nearby Ramsden crater | |
| Rimae Repsold | 166 km | Named from nearby Repsold crater | |
| Rimae Riccioli | 400 km | Named from nearby Riccioli crater | |
| Rimae Ritter | 100 km | Named from nearby Ritter crater | |
| Rimae Römer | 110 km | Named from nearby Römer crater | |
| Rimae Secchi | 35 km | Named from nearby Secchi crater | |
| Rimae Sirsalis | 426 km | Named from nearby Sirsalis crater | |
| Rimae Sosigenes | 190 km | Named from nearby Sosigenes crater | |
| Rimae Sulpicius Gallus | 90 km | Named from nearby Sulpicius Gallus crater | |
| Rimae Taruntius | 25 km | Named from nearby Taruntius crater | |
| Rimae Theaetetus | 50 km | Named from nearby Theaetetus crater | |
| Rimae Triesnecker | 215 km | Named from nearby Triesnecker crater | |
| Rimae Vasco da Gama | 60 km | Named from nearby Vasco da Gama crater | |
| Rimae Zupus | 120 km | Named from nearby Zupus crater |
[edit] Rupes
These are escarpments in the surface.
| Name | Coordinates | Dia. | Name Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rupes Altai | 427.0 km | Altai Mountains | |
| Rupes Boris | 4.0 km | Named from nearby Boris crater | |
| Rupes Cauchy | 120.0 km | Named from nearby Cauchy crater | |
| Rupes Kelvin | 78.0 km | Named from nearby Promontorium Kelvin | |
| Rupes Liebig | 180.0 km | Named from nearby Liebig crater | |
| Rupes Mercator | 93.0 km | Named from nearby Mercator crater | |
| Rupes Recta | 134.0 km | Latin for "straight cliff"[2] | |
| Rupes Toscanelli | 70.0 km | Named from nearby Toscanelli crater |
[edit] Terra
The continental areas between the seas were given comparable names by Giovanni Battista Riccioli,[3] but were opposite the names used for the seas. Thus there were the lands of sterility (Terra Sterilitatis), heat (Terra Caloris), and liveliness (Terra Vitae). However these names for the highland regions are no longer used on recent maps, and Terrae are not officially recognized as standard lunar nomenclature by the International Astronomical Union.[4]
| Name | Name Origin | Near side position |
|---|---|---|
| Insula Ventorum | Island of Winds | |
| Peninsula Fulminu | Peninsula of Thunder | Between Mare Humorum and Oceanus Procellarum.[5] |
| Terra Caloris | Land of Heat | Southwest rim of the near side.[5] |
| Terra Fertilitatis | Land of Fertility | Southeastern rim of the near side.[5] |
| Terra Grandinis | Land of Hail | Northeast border of Mare Imbrium.[5] |
| Terra Manna | Land of Manna | Region between Mare Tranquillitatis, Mare Fecunditatis and Mare Nectaris.[5] |
| Terra Niuiu (Terra Nivium) | Land of Snows | Southeast border of Mare Imbrium.[5] |
| Terra Pruinæ | Land of Frost | Northwest border of Mare Imbrium.[5] |
| Terra Sanitatis | Land of Healthiness | Central region between Mare Nubium and Mare Tranquillitatis.[5] |
| Terra Siccitatis | Land of Dryness | Northwest rim of the near side.[5] |
| Terra Sterilitatis | Land of Sterility | |
| Terra Vigoris | Land of Cheerfulness | Region southeast of Mare Crisium.[5] |
| Terra Vitæ | Land of Liveliness | Northeast rim of the near side.[5] |
[edit] See also
- List of craters on the Moon
- List of maria on the Moon
- List of mountains on the Moon
- List of valleys on the Moon
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Now Matapan or Tainaron
- ^ Traditionally called the "Straight Wall".
- ^ Wood, Chuck (April 18, 2006). Restoring Bright Names. LPOD lunar photo of the day. Retrieved on 2006-12-02.
- ^ Blue, Jennifer (October 16, 2006). Categories for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites.. USGS. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wood, Chuck (2006-07-13). Restoring bright names. LPOD. Retrieved on 2007-07-05.
