Alekhin (crater)

Alekhin
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 5 image, facing west
Coordinates68°12′S 131°18′W / 68.2°S 131.3°W / -68.2; -131.3
Diameter74.82[1] km
DepthUnknown
Colongitude133° at sunrise
FormationEarly Imbrian[2]
EponymNikolai Alekhin

Alekhin is a lunar impact crater that is located on the southern hemisphere on the far side of the Moon.[3] It lies to the north of the crater Zeeman, and south-southeast of Fizeau. To the west lies Crommelin, and east-southeast is Doerfel.

This formation dates to the Early Imbrian period of the lunar geologic timescale.[2] The rim of Alekhin has been heavily eroded by subsequent impacts to the point where the edge is little more than a curving rise in the surface. The outer wall is completely overlain by the crater pair formed by crater Dawson across the northwest rim,[2] and Dawson D on the northern rim. The southern rim is somewhat more heavily marked by gouges and irregularities in the surface, compared to the northeast rim. On the floor are a number of tiny craterlets.[4]: 142 

This crater is named after Soviet rocket designer Nikolai Alekhin (1913-1964).[5] Its designation was formally adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1970.[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 Alekhin.[6]

Alekhin[4]: 291  Latitude Longitude Diameter
E 67.2° S 124.1° W 38 km

References

  1. 1 2 "Alekhin". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. 1 2 3 Byrne, Charles J. (2008). The Far Side of the Moon. Springer. p. 74. ISBN 978-1-4899-8806-5.
  3. ↑ Moore, Patrick (2000). The Data Book of Astronomy. CRC Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-1-4200-3344-1.
  4. 1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 291. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
  5. ↑ Menzel, D. H. (February 1971). "Lunar nomenclature Final report (No. NASA-CR-116798)" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  6. ↑ Grego, P. (2015). "Satellite Crater". In Hargitai, H.; Kereszturi, Á. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. New York, NY: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-3134-3_328.

Sources

  • Price, Fred W. (1988). The Moon Observer's Handbook. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-33500-3.
  • Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 978-0-913135-17-4.
  • Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 978-1-85233-193-1.
  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Alekhin (crater) at Wikimedia Commons
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