Snellius (crater)

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Crater characteristics
Coordinates	29.3° S, 55.7° E
Diameter	83 km
Depth	3.5 km
Colongitude	304° at sunrise
Eponym	Willebrord Snell

Snellius is a lunar crater located near the southeast limb of the Moon. Because of fore shortening the crater appears oval in shape, although it is actually nearly round. To the northeast is the large Petavius crater. South of Snellius is the Stevinus crater.

The rim of Snellius is heavily worn and eroded, with overlapping craterlets. The floor is somewhat irregular and uneven. The western rim marks the start of the Vallis Snellius, one of the longest valleys on the Moon. It continues nearly 500 kilometers to the northwest to near the edge of Mare Nectaris. Its origin is most likely associated with the formation of the lunar mare.

Just to the northwest is 'Snellius A', a crater with a notable ray system that overlaps ths southwest reaches of Mare Fecunditatis to the north.

[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 Snellius crater.

Snellius	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	27.4° S	53.8° E	37 km
B	30.1° S	53.1° E	29 km
C	29.0° S	51.5° E	9 km
D	28.7° S	51.5° E	9 km
E	28.0° S	51.5° E	12 km
X	27.4° S	55.1° E	7 km
Y	25.7° S	52.2° E	10 km

[edit] References

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• Blue, Jennifer (July 25, 2007). Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS. Retrieved on 2007-08-05.
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• Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-62248-4. 
• Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 1852331933.