Cyrillus (crater)

Cyrillus (crater)

Coordinates 13°12′S 24°00′E / 13.2°S 24.0°ECoordinates: 13°12′S 24°00′E / 13.2°S 24.0°E
Diameter 98 km
Depth 3.6 km
Colongitude 335° at sunrise
Eponym Saint Cyril
Location of Cyrillus

Cyrillus is a lunar impact crater located on the northwest edge of Mare Nectaris. Intruding into the northeast rim is the slightly larger, and younger crater Theophilus. To the south is another prominent crater named Catharina. Together these three craters form a prominent trio in the southeast quadrant of the Moon. To the northwest is Ibn-Rushd. Cyrillus is named after Saint Cyril of Alexandria, a 4th-century Coptic Pope and theologian.

The floor of Cyrillus contains a reduced central hill and the considerable crater Cyrillus A. The walls of the broken formation of Cyrillus remain intact up until the point of junction with Theophilus.[1] Slightly northeast of its center, three rounded mountains rise to heights of 1,000 metres above Cyrillus' floor: Cyrillus Alpha, Delta, and Eta.[2]

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 Cyrillus.[3]

Cyrillus Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 13.8° S 23.1° E 17 km
C 12.3° S 21.5° E 12 km
E 15.8° S 25.3° E 11 km
F 15.3° S 25.5° E 44 km
G 15.6° S 26.6° E 8 km

The following craters have been renamed by the IAU.

References

  1. Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co.. ISBN 0-304-35469-4. p. 81, 209
  2. Grego, Peter (2005). Moon Observer's Guide. Springer. ISBN 1-85233-748-6. p. 207
  3. Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-81528-2.