Van Vleck (crater)

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Crater characteristics
The craters Van Vleck (lower right), Weierstrass (lower center), Nobili (upper left) and Jenkins (upper right) from Lunar Orbiter 1. NASA/L&PI image.
Coordinates	1.9° S, 78.3° E
Diameter	31 km
Depth	2.4 km
Colongitude	282° at sunrise
Eponym	John M. Van Vleck

Van Vleck is a lunar impact crater that is located near the northeastern rim of the Gilbert walled plain, to the west of the Mare Smythii. The similar crater Weierstrass is nearly joined to the northwestern rim of Van Vleck. To the east is the small Carrillo crater.

The rim of this crater is nearly circular with no overlaying craters of note, although a small crater abuts against the northeastern side and another along the southern inner wall. The inner sides slope down to a slumped ring of unconsolidated material that encircles the interior floor. There is a small peak just to the north of the crater center.

This crater was previously identified as 'Gilbert M' before being assigned a name by the IAU.

[edit] References

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