Stevinus (crater)

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Crater characteristics
Coordinates 32.5° S, 54.2° E
Diameter 75 km
Depth 3.0 km
Colongitude 306° at sunrise
Eponym Simon Stevin

Stevinus is a lunar impact crater located in the southeast part of the Moon. To the southeast is the large Furnerius crater. Just to the northeast is the Snellius crater and the Vallis Snellius crater valley. To the west-northwest lies Reichenbach crater. To the west-northwest of Stevenus is the tiny crater 'Stevenus A', a feature that possesses a small ray system and a displays a high albedo.[1]

Stevinus has a high inner wall and a central peak at the mid-point of the interior floor. The inner walls are slumped, so that the side slopes down sharply, then more gradually. There are several small ridges on the floor, in addition to the peak.[2] It is from the Copernican period, which lasted from 1.1 billion years ago until the present. It is named for Simon Stevin, a 16th century Belgian mathematician and engineer.[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 Stevinus crater.[3]

Stevinus Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 31.8° S 51.6° E 8 km
B 31.1° S 52.6° E 20 km
C 33.4° S 52.8° E 19 km
D 34.8° S 50.9° E 22 km
E 35.3° S 52.5° E 16 km
F 30.6° S 52.7° E 10 km
G 33.7° S 50.4° E 13 km
H 33.2° S 50.6° E 15 km
J 36.1° S 52.4° E 13 km
K 34.3° S 55.4° E 8 km
L 33.8° S 56.1° E 14 km
R 31.6° S 50.9° E 26 km
S 30.7° S 51.2° E 7 km

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Autostar Suite Astronomer Edition. CD-ROM. Meade, April 2006.
  2. ^ Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 0-913135-17-8. 
  3. ^ Bussey, B.; Spudis, P., (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-81528-2.