Azophi (crater)

Azophi
Lunar Orbiter 4 image of Azophi crater
Coordinates22°06′S 12°42′E / 22.1°S 12.7°E / -22.1; 12.7
Diameter47.54 km (29.54 mi)[1]
Depth3.7 km
Colongitude348° at sunrise
EponymAl Sufi (Azophi)
Lunar Orbiter 4 image of Azophi (lower right) and Abenezra (upper left)
Oblique photo of Abenezra (right) and Azophi (left) from Apollo 14

Azophi is a lunar impact crater that lies in the rugged south-central highlands of the Moon. The northwest rim is attached to the slightly smaller crater Abenezra,[2][3] to the east-southeast is the large and irregular Sacrobosco,[4] and to the west-southwest is Playfair.

The wide outer rim of Azophi has a somewhat polygonal shape with rounded corners. The edge is relatively sharp and cleft-like. The rim is not significantly worn or impacted by smaller craters, with the exception of Azophi C, which lies on the inner northeast wall. The flat surface of the interior floor lacks a central peak and is only marked by a few small craterlets.[5]: 96 

This crater is named after the Persian astronomer Abd Al-Rahman Al Sufi (903-986),[1] also known by his western name, Azophi. Its name was incorporated into lunar nomenclature by Italian astronomer Giovanni Riccioli in 1651.[6] The designation was officially adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1935.[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 Azophi.[7]

Azophi[5]: 292  Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 24.4° S 11.2° E 29 km
B 23.6° S 10.6° E 19 km
C 21.8° S 13.1° E 5 km
D 24.3° S 13.4° E 9 km
E 23.5° S 13.8° E 5 km
F 22.2° S 13.9° E 6 km
G 23.9° S 12.3° E 53 km
H 25.5° S 11.8° E 21 km
J 21.2° S 13.1° E 8 km

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Azophi". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. ↑ Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. pp. 207–208. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
  3. ↑ Grego, Peter (2005). The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers' Observing Guides. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-84628-243-0.
  4. ↑ "LAC 96" (PDF). Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  5. 1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
  6. ↑ Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. pp. 60–61, 211. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
  7. ↑ 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.
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