Biela (crater)

Biela
	Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Coordinates	54°54′S 51°18′E / 54.9°S 51.3°E
Diameter	77.03 km (47.86 mi)
Depth	3.1 km (1.9 mi)
Colongitude	310° at sunrise
Eponym	Wilhelm von Biela

Biela is a lunar impact crater that is located in the rugged highlands of the southeastern Moon, close to the limb.^[2] The crater lies to the east of Rosenberger, to the southeast of the Watt–Steinheil double crater.^[3]

The rim of this crater is overlaid by a pair of small but notable craters: Biela C across the northeast rim and Biela W along the western inner wall. The satellite crater Biela B is attached to the southwestern outer rim, and ejecta from Biela covers the northwestern part of the interior. Despite a certain degree of wear, the rim of Biela remains relatively well-defined, especially in the southeast. The interior floor is flat and not marked by any craterlets of note. There is a central peak formation of three ridges located just to the northeast of the midpoint.^[4]^[5]^: 128

This formation is named after Austrian astronomer Wilhelm von Biela (1782-1856).^[1] The name was incorporated into lunar nomenclature by the German astronomer Johann Mädler during the 19th century.^[6] Its 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 Biela.^[7]

Biela^[5]^: 293	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	52.9° S	53.3° E	26 km
B	56.5° S	49.6° E	43 km
C	54.3° S	53.5° E	26 km
D	55.8° S	56.3° E	14 km
E	56.4° S	56.3° E	8 km
F	56.3° S	54.5° E	9 km
G	56.2° S	53.9° E	10 km
H	57.9° S	54.2° E	8 km
J	57.0° S	52.9° E	14 km
T	53.8° S	49.9° E	7 km
U	53.4° S	49.0° E	16 km
V	53.6° S	48.5° E	6 km
W	55.1° S	49.6° E	16 km
Y	54.9° S	58.0° E	15 km
Z	53.8° S	57.0° E	48 km

References

1 2 3 "Biela". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
↑ Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
↑ "LAC 128" (PDF). Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
↑ Grego, Peter (2005). The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers' Observing Guides Series. London: Springer-Verlag. p. 222. ISBN 1-85233-748-6.
1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
↑ Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
↑ 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.

[GPN-1] 1 2 3 "Biela". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.

[Moore_2001-2] Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.

[LAC-128-3] "LAC 128" (PDF). Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 2026-06-06.

[Grego_2005-4] Grego, Peter (2005). The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers' Observing Guides Series. London: Springer-Verlag. p. 222. ISBN 1-85233-748-6.

[Bussey_Spudis_2004-5] 1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.

[Whitaker_1999-6] Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.

[Grego_2015-7] 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.

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