Boscovich (crater)

Boscovich
Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Coordinates9°48′N 11°06′E / 9.8°N 11.1°E / 9.8; 11.1
Diameter41.53 km (25.81 mi)[1]
Depth1.78 km (1.11 mi)[2] (?)
Colongitude349° at sunrise
EponymRoger Joseph Boscovich

Boscovich is a lunar impact crater that has been almost completely eroded away by subsequent impacts. It is located west-northwest of the crater Julius Caesar, and south-southeast of the prominent Manilius.[3]: 60  T. W. Webb described it as a very dark enclosure.[4] It is an irregular formation with a low outer wall.[5] The crater floor has a low albedo,[6] and the dark hue makes it relatively easy to recognize.[5] The surface is crossed by the rille system designated Rimae Boscovich that extends for a diameter of 32 kilometres.[7] Two of these rilles lie at right angles to each other.[8]

This crater is named after Croatian physicist Roger Joseph Boscovich (1711-1787). His name was introduced into lunar nomenclature during the 18th century by German astronomer Johann H. Schröter.[9] Its 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 Boscovich.[10]

Boscovich[3]: 294  Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 9.5° N 12.6° E 6 km
B 9.8° N 9.2° E 5 km
C 8.5° N 12.0° E 3 km
D 9.0° N 12.2° E 5 km
E 9.0° N 12.7° E 21 km
F 10.6° N 11.4° E 5 km
P 11.5° N 10.3° E 67 km

References

  1. 1 2 "Boscovich". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. ↑ Moutsoulas, M.; Preka, P. (August 1980). "Morphological Characteristics of Lunar Craters with Small Depth/diameter Ratio. II". The Moon and the Planets. 23 (1): 113–126. Bibcode:1980M&P....23..113M. doi:10.1007/BF00897584.
  3. 1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
  4. ↑ Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. pp. 118, 154–159. Reprint: ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3
  5. 1 2 Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. p. 176. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
  6. ↑ Grego, Peter (2005). The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers' Observing Guides Series. London: Springer-Verlag. p. 128. ISBN 1-85233-748-6.
  7. ↑ "Rimae Boscovich". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  8. ↑ Chu, Alan; et al. (2012). The Cambridge Photographic Moon Atlas. Translated by Storm Dunlop. Cambridge University Press. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-107-01973-7.
  9. ↑ Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. pp. 98, 218. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
  10. ↑ 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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