Dewar (crater)

Dewar
LRO image
Coordinates2°37′S 165°37′E / 2.61°S 165.62°E / -2.61; 165.62
Diameter46.31 km (28.78 mi)[1]
DepthUnknown
Colongitude195° at sunrise
FormationEarly Imbrian[2]
EponymJames Dewar
Clementine image showing that Dewar lies within a low-albedo patch on the far side of the Moon.
Oblique Apollo 11 image showing the rim of Dewar at right, along with Dewar E and F near center. The scene is within the low-albedo area.

Dewar is a lunar impact crater that lies on the Moon's far side.[3] Less than one crater diameter to the south-southwest is the crater Stratton. Vening Meinesz is a little over one crater diameter to the northwest.[2]

On the lunar geologic timescale, this formation dates to the Early Imbrian period.[2] The slightly worn rim of this crater is roughly circular, with a small outward protrusion along the southern edge. The interior floor is marked by several small impacts along the eastern side.[4]: 85 

Dewar lies on the south side of an anomalously low albedo area of terrain (dark patch) on the far side of the Moon. The low-albedo area is also a geochemical anomaly, and is high in iron oxide and titanium dioxide. It has been interpreted as a cryptomare.[5] There is a lunar swirl to the southeast of the crater that is associated with a magnetic anomaly.[6]

This formation was named after British chemist James Dewar (1842-1923). It 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 Dewar.[7]

Dewar[4]: 297  Latitude Longitude Diameter
E 2.3° S 167.8° E 15 km
F 2.8° S 167.5° E 14 km
S 3.1° S 163.9° E 23 km

References

  1. 1 2 "Dewar". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  2. 1 2 3 Byrne, Charles J. (2008). The Far Side of the Moon. Springer. p. 29, 81. 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. 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. ↑ Lawrence, S. J.; Hawke, B. R.; Gillis-Davis, J. J.; Taylor, G. J.; Lawrence, D. J.; Cahill, J. T.; Hagerty, J. J.; Lucey, P. G.; Smith, G. A.; Keil, K. (2008). "Composition and origin of the Dewar geochemical anomaly". Journal of Geophysical Research. 113 E02001. doi:10.1029/2007JE002904.
  6. ↑ Denevi, B. W.; et al. (July 2016). "The Distribution and Extent of Lunar Swirls". Icarus. 273: 53–67. Bibcode:2016Icar..273...53D. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2016.01.017.
  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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