Bettinus (crater)

Bettinus
Coordinates63°24′S 45°10′W / 63.40°S 45.16°W / -63.40; -45.16
Diameter71.78 km (44.60 mi)[1]
Depth3.8 km (2.4 mi)
Colongitude45° at sunrise
EponymMario Bettinus

Bettinus is a lunar impact crater located near the southwest limb.[2] Due to its location, the crater has a distinctly oval shape because of foreshortening.[3] To the south of the rim is the similar-sized crater Kircher,[4]: 136  and to the northwest is the slightly smaller Zucchius.[5] From the west to the southwest, closer to the limb, is the giant formation Bailly. Bettinus lies due south of the Schiller-Zucchius Basin.

The rim of Bettinus is somewhat worn, with an inner wall that is wider to the northwest. The interior floor is relatively flat, with a central rise that is offset to the west of the midpoint.[4]: 125  The spectra of the central peak fits a noritic anorthosite mineralogy, which originated from a depth of 7.1 to 11.1 km.[6] There is a small crater along the eastern rim.

This crater is named after the Italian mathematician and astronomer Mario Bettinus (1582-1657).[7] The name was incorporated into lunar nomenclature by Italian astronomer Giovanni Riccioli in 1651, who labelled it "Bettinus Soc. I".[8] Its modern designation was formally 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 Bettinus.[9]

Bettinus[4]: 293  Coordinates Diameter
A 64°53′S 49°02′W / 64.88°S 49.03°W / -64.88; -49.03 (Bettinus A) 26 km
B 63°32′S 51°19′W / 63.54°S 51.31°W / -63.54; -51.31 (Bettinus B) 25 km
C 63°20′S 38°05′W / 63.33°S 38.09°W / -63.33; -38.09 (Bettinus C) 23 km
D 65°00′S 46°37′W / 65.00°S 46.61°W / -65.00; -46.61 (Bettinus D) 10 km
E 63°13′S 42°23′W / 63.21°S 42.38°W / -63.21; -42.38 (Bettinus E) 8 km
F 62°58′S 44°01′W / 62.97°S 44.02°W / -62.97; -44.02 (Bettinus F) 7 km
G 61°36′S 44°44′W / 61.60°S 44.74°W / -61.60; -44.74 (Bettinus G) 6 km
H 64°37′S 43°49′W / 64.62°S 43.82°W / -64.62; -43.82 (Bettinus H) 8 km

Both Bettinus B and H contain permanently shadowed regions where sunlight never reaches.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "Bettinus". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. ↑ Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. p. 197. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
  3. ↑ Whitaker, E. A.; et al. (1963). Rectified Lunar Atlas: Supplement No. 2 to the Photographic Lunar Atlas. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. Retrieved 2026-06-01. See Field 28.
  4. 1 2 3 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
  5. ↑ "LAC 125" (PDF). Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  6. ↑ Cahill, J. T. S.; et al. (September 2009). "Compositional variations of the lunar crust: Results from radiative transfer modeling of central peak spectra". Journal of Geophysical Research. 114 (E9) E09001. Bibcode:2009JGRE..114.9001C. doi:10.1029/2008JE003282.
  7. ↑ Jones, Brian (2025). Who's Who In The Moon: From Abbot to Zupus A Guide To The Moon And The People On It. Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-5267-3708-3.
  8. ↑ Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ McGovern, J. Andrew; et al. (March 2013). "Mapping and characterization of non-polar permanent shadows on the lunar surface". Icarus. 223 (1): 566–581. Bibcode:2013Icar..223..566M. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2012.10.018.

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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