Chaucer (crater)

Chaucer
LRO WAC image
Coordinates3°42′N 140°00′E / 3.7°N 140.0°E / 3.7; 140.0
Diameter45.48 km (28.26 mi)[1]
DepthUnknown
Colongitude141° at sunrise
FormationNectarian[2]
EponymGeoffrey Chaucer
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 5 image

Chaucer is a lunar impact crater that is located to the west of the walled plain Hertzsprung, on the far side of the Moon. It lies to the northwest of the crater Vavilov and east of the Tsander–Kibal'chich crater pair. This formation dates to the Nectarian period on the lunar geologic timescale.[2] It is a circular crater with a slightly eroded outer rim. The interior floor is nearly featureless, with only a few tiny craterlets marking the surface.[3]: 70 

This formation is named after the English poet and author Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340–1400).[4] Its designation was officially 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 Chaucer.[5]

Chaucer[3]: 295  Latitude Longitude Diameter
B 6.5° N 137.4° W 27 km
P 1.8° N 141.3° W 13 km

References

  1. 1 2 "Chaucer". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. 1 2 Byrne, Charles J. (2008). The Far Side of the Moon. Springer. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-4899-8806-5.
  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. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.