Hommel (crater) explained

Coordinates:-54.6°N 33°W
Diameter:120 km
Depth:2.8 km
Colong:326
Eponym:Johann Hommel

Hommel is a lunar impact crater located in the southeast section of the Moon, in a region that is deeply impacted with a multitude of impact craters. The most notable craters nearby are Pitiscus to the north; Rosenberger due east; and Nearch to the southeast. The prominent crater Vlacq is nearly attached to the northeast rim. Also nearby is Asclepi to the west. Hommel is about 120 kilometers in diameter and its walls reach heights of 2,800 meters. It is from the Pre-Nectarian period, 4.55 to 3.92 billion years ago.[1] [2]

The eroded outer wall of Hommel is overlain and incised by a number of smaller but still sizeable craters. Hommel C overlays the western rim and Hommel A the north. Intruding into the rim are Hommel H to the northwest, Hommel B in the east, and Hommel P along the southern wall. These craters are in turn overlain by smaller craterlets. The crater Hommel D lies on the southern part of the inner floor, incising into the south rim. In the midpoint of the crater is a low central peak.[3]

The crater is named for 16th century German mathematician and astronomer Johann Hommel.[1]

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 Hommel.[4]

Hommel LatitudeLongitudeDiameter
A53.7° S34.3° E51 km
B55.3° S37.0° E33 km
C54.8° S29.6° E53 km
D55.8° S32.5° E28 km
E59.0° S31.0° E14 km
F58.4° S32.0° E21 km
G58.1° S27.4° E30 km
H52.6° S30.9° E43 km
HA52.0° S30.5° E8 km
J53.5° S27.9° E18 km
K55.5° S27.0° E16 km
L56.1° S27.9° E18 km
M59.8° S27.5° E7 km
N59.3° S28.8° E14 km
O58.5° S28.2° E6 km
P56.9° S31.7° E34 km
Q56.1° S38.4° E29 km
R52.6° S32.6° E11 km
S56.6° S36.2° E22 km
T57.6° S26.3° E22 km
V53.5° S33.5° E13 km
X60.9° S32.2° E6 km
Y60.4° S30.8° E4 km
Z59.8° S30.4° E4 km

Notes and References

  1. Autostar Suite Astronomer Edition. CD-ROM. Meade, April 2006.
  2. Web site: Identikit . luna.e-cremona.it . October 26, 2007 .
  3. Book: Rükl, Antonín . Antonín Rükl

    . Antonín Rükl . 1990 . Atlas of the Moon . . 0-913135-17-8 .

  4. Book: Bussey, B. . Ben Bussey . Spudis, P. . Paul Spudis . 2004 . The Clementine Atlas of the Moon . . New York . 0-521-81528-2 .