Michelson (crater) explained

Coordinates:7.2°N -120.7°W
Diameter:123 km
Depth:Unknown
Colong:121
Eponym:Albert A. Michelson

Michelson is a crater on the far side of the Moon. It lies along the northeastern outer rim of the huge walled plain Hertzsprung, and to the southwest of the crater Kolhörster.

This is a heavily eroded crater formation with multiple impacts along the rim edge and within the interior. The rim is roughly circular, but has been rendered relatively uneven due to these smaller craters. There are small craters across the interior floor, including impacts along the north, west and southeastern edges.

To the southeast of the outer rim is a crater chain that has been designated Catena Michelson. This feature is radial to the Mare Orientale impact basin, and passes near the outer rim of the crater Grachev.

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 Michelson.

Michelson LatitudeLongitudeDiameter
G5.7° N118.8° W27 km
H4.6° N116.8° W35 km
V8.0° N124.4° W20 km
W7.5° N121.3° W25 km

See also

References

. Patrick Moore . 2001 . On the Moon . . 978-0-304-35469-6 .

. Antonín Rükl . 1990 . Atlas of the Moon . . 978-0-913135-17-4 .

. Thomas William Webb . 1962 . Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes . 6th revised . Dover . 978-0-486-20917-3 .

. Ewen Whitaker . 1999 . Mapping and Naming the Moon . Cambridge University Press . 978-0-521-62248-6 .