Calippus (crater)

Calippus (crater)

Mosaic of Lunar Orbiter 4 images
Coordinates 38°54′N 10°42′E / 38.9°N 10.7°ECoordinates: 38°54′N 10°42′E / 38.9°N 10.7°E
Diameter 32 km
Depth 2.7 km
Colongitude 350° at sunrise
Eponym Callippus

Calippus is a small lunar crater that is located on the eastern edge of the rugged Montes Caucasus mountain range in the northern part of the Moon. It lies to the southwest of the crater remnant Alexander, to the northwest of the Mare Serenitatis.

The outer rim of Calippus has an irregular appearance, with outward bulges to the northeast and particularly to the west where there is an interior shelf of slumped material. The exterior has a slight rampart that is surrounded by the rugged terrain of the mountain range. Within the sharp-sided interior walls is a rough and irregular interior floor.

To the southeast of this crater, on the edge of the Mare Serenitatis, is an arcing rille designated Rima Calippus. This cleft follows a path to the northeast for a length of about 40 kilometers.

Lunar Orbiter 5 image of Rima Calippus
Location of Calippus


Satellite craters

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Calippus.

Calippus Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 37.0° N 7.9° E 16 km
B 36.0° N 10.0° E 7 km
C 39.6° N 9.1° E 40 km
D 36.3° N 11.3° E 4 km
E 38.9° N 11.9° E 5 km
F 40.5° N 10.0° E 6 km
G 41.3° N 11.5° E 4 km

References

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