Damoiseau (crater)

Damoiseau
Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Coordinates4°51′S 61°15′W / 4.85°S 61.25°W / -4.85; -61.25
Diameter36.66 km (22.78 mi)[1]
Depth1.25 km (0.78 mi)[2]
Colongitude61° at sunrise
EponymMarie-C.-T. de Damoiseau

Damoiseau is a lunar impact crater that is located just to the west of the Oceanus Procellarum,[3] in the western part of the Moon's near side. It is described as a complex multiple crater,[4][3] and lies due east of the prominent basin Grimaldi, a walled plain with a distinctive dark floor. Due south of Damoiseau is the crater Sirsalis.[5]

The low outer rim of Damoiseau is not quite circular, having an outward protrusion to the northeast and smaller bulges to the north and southeast.[6]: 74  The interior floor is irregular and complex, with a series of fractures[7][8] (similar to Vitello). There is a low ridge near the midpoint. The crater is concentric with a larger, older crater designated Damoiseau M that is approximately twice the diameter.[9][10] This outer feature is missing a rim to the northeast where it intersects the lunar mare.

To the southwest is a rille system named Rimae Grimaldi, named after the crater. This continues to the west and south, for a maximum diameter of 162 kilometers.[11]

The Damoiseau formation is named after French astronomer Baron Marie-Charles-Theodor de Damoiseau (1768-1846).[1] His name was introduced with the lunar nomenclature of German astronomer Johann Heinrich von Mädler by 1837.[12] Its designation was formally adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1935.[1] Its satellite craters were named in 2006.

Satellite craters

Neighborhood of Damoiseau, including satellite features

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Damoiseau.[13]

Damoiseau[6]: 296  Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 6.3° S 62.4° W 47 km
B 8.6° S 61.6° W 23 km
BA 8.3° S 59.0° W 9 km
C 9.1° S 62.5° W 15 km
D 6.4° S 63.3° W 17 km
E 5.2° S 58.3° W 14 km
F 7.9° S 62.1° W 11 km
G 2.5° S 55.6° W 4 km
H 3.8° S 59.8° W 45 km
J 4.1° S 62.0° W 7 km
K 4.6° S 60.4° W 23 km
L 4.5° S 59.3° W 14 km
M 5.1° S 61.3° W 54 km

Damoiseau BA is a concentric (double-walled) crater.[14] Anorthosite has been identified in Damoiseau C and D, most likely coming from the Grimaldi ejecta.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Damoiseau". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  2. ↑ Pike, R. J. (September 1976). "Crater Dimensions from Apollo Data and Supplemental Sources". The Moon. 15 (3–4): 463–477. Bibcode:1976Moon...15..463P. doi:10.1007/BF00562253.
  3. 1 2 Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
  4. ↑ Grego, Peter (2005). The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers' Observing Guides Series. London: Springer-Verlag. p. 188. ISBN 1-85233-748-6.
  5. ↑ "LAC 74" (PDF). Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  6. 1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
  7. ↑ Whitford-Stark, J. L. (May 1982). "A preliminary analysis of lunar extra-mare basalts: Distribution, compositions, ages, volumes, and eruption styles". The Moon and the Planets. 26 (3): 323–338. Bibcode:1982M&P....26..323W. doi:10.1007/BF00928015.
  8. ↑ Wilhelms, Don E.; McCauley, John F.; Trask, Newell J. (1987). The geologic history of the Moon. USGS Professional Paper 1348. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. Bibcode:1987ghm..book.....W. doi:10.3133/pp1348.
  9. ↑ Chu, Alan; et al. (2012). The Cambridge Photographic Moon Atlas. Cambridge University Press. p. 181. ISBN 978-1-107-01973-7.
  10. ↑ "Damoiseau M". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  11. ↑ "Rimae Grimaldi". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  12. ↑ Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. p. 120, 220. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
  13. ↑ Grego, P. (2015). "Satellite Crater". In Hargitai, H.; Kereszturi, Á. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. New York, NY: Springer. pp. 1858–1859. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-3134-3_328. ISBN 978-1-4614-3133-6.
  14. ↑ Dembowski, William M. (October 2006). "Enigmatic lunar craters". Journal of the Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers, the Strolling Astronomer. 48 (4): 27–31. Bibcode:2006JALPO..48d..27D.
  15. ↑ Hawke, B. R.; et al. (June 2003). "Distribution and modes of occurrence of lunar anorthosite". Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 108 (E6) 5050. Bibcode:2003JGRE..108.5050H. doi:10.1029/2002JE001890.
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