Cyrillus (crater) explained

Coordinates:-13.2°N 24°W
Diameter:98 km
Depth:3.6 km
Colong:335
Eponym:Saint Cyril

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 5th-century Patriarch 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 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]

A tiny crater with bright rays on the east side of Cyrillus has been named Shioli. A point to the east of Shioli is the proposed landing site of Japan's SLIM lander.[3] [4] [5]

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.[6]

CyrillusLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
A13.8° S23.1° E17 km
C12.3° S21.5° E12 km
E15.8° S25.3° E11 km
F15.3° S25.5° E44 km
G15.6° S26.6° E8 km

The following craters have been renamed by the IAU.

Notes and References

  1. Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co.. . p. 81, 209
  2. Grego, Peter (2005). Moon Observer's Guide. Springer. . p. 207
  3. https://blog.jatan.space/p/moon-monday-issue-144 Moon Monday #144: On the most precise planetary landing attempt by SLIM, sprawling SLS rocket costs, and more
  4. https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/feature/forefront/220928.html SLIM
  5. https://www.lroc.asu.edu/posts/1318 On the Way to Shioli Crater
  6. Book: Bussey, B. . Ben Bussey . Spudis, P. . Paul Spudis . 2004 . The Clementine Atlas of the Moon . . New York . 0-521-81528-2 .