De Moraes (crater)

De Moraes
Clementine mosaic
Coordinates49°30′N 143°12′E / 49.5°N 143.2°E / 49.5; 143.2
Diameter54.41 km (33.81 mi)[1]
DepthUnknown
Colongitude218° at sunrise
EponymAbrahão De Moraes
Satellite features
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 5 image

De Moraes is a lunar impact crater that is located in the northern part of the Moon's far side. It lies to the northeast of the larger crater Bridgman,[2] and southwest of van Rhijn.[3] To the southeast is the heavily degraded Campbell formation.[2]

This is a worn crater feature with features that have been softened and rounded from a long history of minor impacts. Small but notable craters overlay the rim and inner walls on the northeast and northwest sides, and there is a slanting gouge in the eastern rim. The interior floor is nearly featureless, being marked only by a few tiny craterlets.[4]: 17  Nearly attached to the west-southwest outer rim is the satellite feature De Moreas T.[3]

This formation is named after the Brazilian astronomer Abrahão De Moraes (1916-1970). Its designation was officially adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1979.[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 De Moraes.[5]

De Moraes[4]: 296  Latitude Longitude Diameter
S 48.9° N 140.7° E 45 km
T 49.3° N 139.5° E 46 km

References

  1. 1 2 "De Moraes". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  2. 1 2 Byrne, Charles J. (2008). The Far Side of the Moon. Springer. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-4899-8806-5.
  3. 1 2 "LAC 17" (PDF). Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  4. 1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
  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.
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