Coriolis (crater)

Coriolis
Coriolis from Apollo 10. NASA photo.
Coordinates0°06′N 171°48′E / 0.1°N 171.8°E / 0.1; 171.8
Diameter78.56 km (48.81 mi)[1]
DepthUnknown
Colongitude188° at sunrise
FormationNectarian[2]
EponymGaspard G. Coriolis
Lunar Orbiter 2 image

Coriolis is a lunar impact crater that is located on the far side of the Moon.[3] The crater floor is bisected by the lunar equator, and it lies about three crater diameters northwest of the crater Daedalus.[4]

This formation dates to the Nectarian period of the lunar geologic timescale.[2] The rim is somewhat eroded, and several small craters lie along the edge. The northern rim is somewhat damaged, and has a slight outward bulge and depression in the side. The interior floor has small craters along the eastern and southern inner walls. There are also some low hills near the mid-part of the floor.[5]: 86  A short crater chain to the south of Coriolis may be the result of the Mendel'sham impact to the northwest.[2]

This crater is named after French physicist Gaspard G. Coriolis (1792–1843).[6] 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 Coriolis.[7]

Coriolis[5]: 296  Latitude Longitude Diameter
C 1.9° N 173.3° E 19 km
G 0.0° N 174.7° E 17 km
H 0.5° S 174.2° E 12 km
L 1.9° S 172.7° E 32 km
M 1.4° S 171.7° E 31 km
S 0.1° N 169.7° E 17 km
W 3.1° N 168.0° E 37 km
Y 3.6° N 171.2° E 31 km
Z 4.2° N 171.5° E 53 km

Satellite craters photographed by Apollo 11:

References

  1. 1 2 "Coriolis". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
  2. 1 2 3 Byrne, Charles J. (2008). The Far Side of the Moon. Springer. pp. 29, 50. ISBN 978-1-4899-8806-5.
  3. ↑ Moore, Patrick (2000). The Data Book of Astronomy. CRC Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-4200-3344-1.
  4. ↑ "LAC 86" (PDF). Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
  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. ↑ 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.
  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.

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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