Condorcet (crater)

Condorcet
Apollo 17 mapping camera image
Coordinates12°06′N 69°35′E / 12.1°N 69.58°E / 12.1; 69.58
Diameter74.85 km (46.51 mi)[1]
Depth2.7 km (1.7 mi)
Colongitude292° at sunrise
FormationNectarian[2]
EponymMarquis de Condorcet

Condorcet is a lunar impact crater that is located in the eastern part of the Moon's near side, close to the southeast of the Mare Crisium.[3] To the northeast of Condorcet are the craters Hansen and Alhazen.[4]

This crater dates to around the time the Crisium basin formed, during the Nectarian period on the lunar geologic timescale.[2] The outer rim is eroded, with a low saddle point along the northern wall and the satellite crater Condorcet Y lies across the northwestern rim. The interior floor has been resurfaced, leaving a level, nearly featureless surface that is marked only by a few tiny craterlets. The floor has a large dark patch in the western half, but the remainder is approximately the same albedo as the surrounding terrain.[5]: 62 

This crater is named after French mathematician Jean Marquis de Condorcet (1743-1794). His name was included in the lunar nomenclature of German astronomer Johann Hieronymus Schröter in 1791.[6] Its designation was formally adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1935.[1]

Satellite craters

Condorcet crater and its satellite craters taken from Earth in 2012 at the University of Hertfordshire's Bayfordbury Observatory with the telescopes Meade LX200 14" and Lumenera Skynyx 2-1

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Condorcet.

Condorcet[5]: 295  Coordinates Diameter
A 11°31′N 67°17′E / 11.51°N 67.29°E / 11.51; 67.29 (Condorcet A) 15.4 km
D 9°50′N 68°21′E / 9.84°N 68.35°E / 9.84; 68.35 (Condorcet D) 19.8 km
E 11°21′N 68°10′E / 11.35°N 68.16°E / 11.35; 68.16 (Condorcet E) 8.0 km
F 8°16′N 73°05′E / 8.27°N 73.09°E / 8.27; 73.09 (Condorcet F) 39.7 km
G 10°39′N 67°58′E / 10.65°N 67.97°E / 10.65; 67.97 (Condorcet G) 10.3 km
H 12°27′N 65°05′E / 12.45°N 65.08°E / 12.45; 65.08 (Condorcet H) 21.0 km
J 13°04′N 65°12′E / 13.07°N 65.2°E / 13.07; 65.2 (Condorcet J) 16.3 km
L 10°09′N 73°40′E / 10.15°N 73.67°E / 10.15; 73.67 (Condorcet L) 12.6
M 9°04′N 73°07′E / 9.07°N 73.12°E / 9.07; 73.12 (Condorcet M) 10.5 km
N 8°59′N 72°37′E / 8.98°N 72.61°E / 8.98; 72.61 (Condorcet N) 5.0 km
P 8°46′N 70°17′E / 8.76°N 70.29°E / 8.76; 70.29 (Condorcet P) 48.4 km
Q 11°14′N 73°22′E / 11.23°N 73.36°E / 11.23; 73.36 (Condorcet Q) 35.8 km
R 11°45′N 74°45′E / 11.75°N 74.75°E / 11.75; 74.75 (Condorcet R) 19.9 km
S 10°40′N 75°38′E / 10.67°N 75.64°E / 10.67; 75.64 (Condorcet S) 10.2 km
T 11°48′N 65°50′E / 11.8°N 65.84°E / 11.8; 65.84 (Condorcet T) 14.7 km
TA 12°10′N 65°43′E / 12.16°N 65.72°E / 12.16; 65.72 (Condorcet TA) 14.6 km
U 10°05′N 75°24′E / 10.08°N 75.4°E / 10.08; 75.4 (Condorcet U) 11.0 km
W 13°56′N 67°00′E / 13.94°N 67°E / 13.94; 67 (Condorcet W) 35.8 km
X 10°07′N 69°57′E / 10.12°N 69.95°E / 10.12; 69.95 (Condorcet X) 8.9 km
Y 12°52′N 68°55′E / 12.86°N 68.92°E / 12.86; 68.92 (Condorcet Y) 14.2 km

The following craters have been renamed by the IAU.

Condorcet H has a distinct diamond-shaped floor at the bottom. Condorcet A displays evidence of a landslide.[7] Condoret T dates to the Copernican period and has its own ray system.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Condorcet". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  2. 1 2 Lu, Xuejin; et al. (November 2021). "Geomorphology, Mineralogy, and Geochronology of Mare Basalts and Non-Mare Materials around the Lunar Crisium Basin". Remote Sensing. 13 (23): 4828. Bibcode:2021RemS...13.4828L. doi:10.3390/rs13234828.
  3. ↑ Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
  4. ↑ "LAC 63" (PDF). Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  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.
  6. ↑ Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. pp. 98, 218. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
  7. ↑ Evans, R. E.; El-BaJ, Farouk (January 1, 1973). "Geological Observations From Lunar Orbit". Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  8. ↑ Li, Lin; Mustard, John F. (June 2003). "Highland contamination in lunar mare soils: Improved mapping with multiple end-member spectral mixture analysis (MESMA)". Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 108 (E6) 5053. Bibcode:2003JGRE..108.5053L. doi:10.1029/2002JE001917.

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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