Chamberlin (lunar crater)

Chamberlin
Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Coordinates58°54′S 95°42′E / 58.9°S 95.7°E / -58.9; 95.7
Diameter60.41 km (37.54 mi)[1]
DepthUnknown
Colongitude266° at sunrise
EponymThomas C. Chamberlin
Oblique Apollo 15 image with Moulton above center and Chamberlin below center, facing south

Chamberlin is a lunar impact crater that is located on the far side of the Moon, just past the southeastern limb. It lies to the southeast of the crater Jeans, and Moulton is attached to the southeastern rim of Chamberlin. This crater is located in a part of the lunar surface that has undergone resurfacing of crater interiors, producing dark-hued crater floors.[2]

The outer rim of this formation is somewhat irregular in shape, with outward bulges to the east and southeast. The southern rim has partly disintegrated, and merges with the northwest rim of Moulton.[3]: 129  The interior floor of Chamberlin has been flooded by basaltic lava,[4] producing a nearly flat surface with a lower albedo than the typical lunar surface. The interior is otherwise devoid of features of interest, and is marked only by a few tiny craterlets.

This formation is named after American geologist Thomas C. Chamberlin (1843–1928).[5] Its designation was formerly 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 Chamberlin.[6]

Chamberlin[3]: 295  Latitude Longitude Diameter
D 57.5° S 102.1° E 21 km
H 59.8° S 99.9° E 27 km
R 60.0° S 92.3° E 38 km

References

  1. 1 2 "Chamberlin". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. ↑ "LAC 129" (PDF). Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  3. 1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
  4. ↑ Gornitz, Vivien (September 1973). "Igneous vs Impact Processes for the Origin of the Mare Lavas". The Moon. 6 (3–4): 357–379. Bibcode:1973Moon....6..357G. doi:10.1007/BF00562211.
  5. ↑ Menzel, D. H.; et al. (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by the Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews. 12 (2): 136–186. Bibcode:1971SSRv...12..136M. doi:10.1007/BF00171763. S2CID 122125855.
  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.
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