Diophantus (crater) explained

Coordinates:27.6°N -34.3°W
Diameter:19 km
Depth:3.0 km
Colong:34
Eponym:Diophantus

Diophantus is a lunar impact crater that lies in the southwestern part of the Mare Imbrium. It was named after ancient Greek mathematician Diophantus. It forms a pair with the larger crater Delisle to the north. Diophantus has a wide inner wall and a low central rise. To the north of Diophantus is the sinuous rille designated Rima Diophantus, named after the crater. Diophantus C lies near the exterior of the southwest wall.

Diophantus is a crater of Eratosthenian age.[1]

Rima Diophantus

This cleft follows a generally east–west path across the Mare Imbrium. It is centered at selenographic coordinates 31.0° N, 32.0° W, and has a maximum diameter of 150 km.

Small craters

Several tiny craters north of Diophantus have been assigned names by the IAU. These are listed in the table below.

CraterCoordinatesDiameterName source
Isabel28.2°N -34.1°W1 kmSpanish feminine name
Louise28.5°N -34.2°W0.8 kmFrench feminine name
Samir28.5°N -34.3°W2 kmArabic masculine name
Walter128°N -33.8°W1 kmGerman masculine name
1Not to be confused with the large crater Walther in the southern hemisphere which is misidentified as 'Walter' in some publications

The crater Samir has bright rays that extend for over 70 km.

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 Diophantus.

Diophantus LatitudeLongitudeDiameter
B29.1° N32.5° W6 km
C27.3° N34.7° W5 km
D26.9° N36.3° W4 km

The following craters have been renamed by the IAU.

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp1348 The geologic history of the Moon