Franklin (crater)

Franklin
	Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Coordinates	38°48′N 47°42′E / 38.8°N 47.7°E
Diameter	56 km
Depth	2.7 km
Colongitude	313° at sunrise
Eponym	Benjamin Franklin

Oblique view of Franklin (lower left) and Cepheus (upper right), from Apollo 16

Franklin is a lunar impact crater that is located in the northeast part of the visible Moon.^[1] To the north-northwest is the smaller crater Cepheus, and in the opposite direction to the southwest is the shallow Berzelius.

The rim of Franklin is generally circular, with a pair of outward bulges in the western wall. The inner wall is terraced, and there is a central peak at the midpoint of the floor. A narrow cleft runs to the west-southwest across the floor, passing to the north of the central peak.

This crater is named after American inventor Benjamin Franklin. This designation was officially adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1935.^[2] It was originally named Cepheus by Italian selenographer G. B. Riccioli in 1651.^[3]

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 Franklin.

Franklin	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
C	35.7° N	44.3° E	15 km
F	37.5° N	47.7° E	38 km
G	40.1° N	48.1° E	7 km
H	37.1° N	43.7° E	6 km
K	39.1° N	51.4° E	20 km
W	37.8° N	43.7° E	6 km

References

↑ Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. pp. 109, 154–159. Reprint: ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3
↑ "Franklin". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
↑ Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. pp. 61–62, 311. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.

Sources

Andersson, L. E.; Whitaker, E. A. (1982). NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature. NASA RP-1097.
Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
Cocks, Elijah E.; Cocks, Josiah C. (1995). Who's Who on the Moon: A Biographical Dictionary of Lunar Nomenclature. Tudor Publishers. ISBN 978-0-936389-27-1.
McDowell, Jonathan (July 15, 2007). "Lunar Nomenclature". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
Menzel, D. H.; Minnaert, M.; Levin, B.; Dollfus, A.; Bell, B. (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.
Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
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.

[Webb_1962-1] Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. pp. 109, 154–159. Reprint: ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3

[GPN-2] "Franklin". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.

[Whitaker_1999-3] Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. pp. 61–62, 311. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.

[1]

[2]

[3]

Moon
Outline
Physical properties	Internal structure Topography Atmosphere Gravity field Hill sphere Magnetic field Sodium tail Moonlight Earthlight
Orbit	Orbital elements Distance Perigee and apogee Libration Nodes Nodal period Precession Syzygy New moon Full moon Eclipses Lunar eclipse Total penumbral lunar eclipse Tetrad Solar eclipse Solar eclipses on the Moon Eclipse cycle Supermoon Tide Tidal force Tidal locking Tidal acceleration Tidal range Kordylewski clouds Lunar station
Surface and features	Selenography Terminator Limb Hemispheres Near side Far side Poles North pole South pole Face Maria List Mountains Peak of eternal light Valleys Volcanic features Domes Calderas Lava tubes Craters List A–B C–F G–K L–N O–Q R–S T–Z Ray systems Permanently shadowed craters South Pole–Aitken basin Regolith swirls Rilles Wrinkle ridges Rocks Lunar basalt 70017 Changesite-(Y) Water Space weathering Micrometeorite Sputtering Quakes Transient lunar phenomenon Selenographic coordinate system
Science	Observation Libration Lunar theory Origin Giant-impact hypothesis Theia Lunar magma ocean Geology Timescale Late Heavy Bombardment Lunar meteorites KREEP Volcanism Experiments Lunar laser ranging ALSEP Lunar sample displays Apollo 11 Apollo 17 Lunar seismology
Exploration	Missions Apollo program Artemis program Explorers Probes Landing Colonization Moonbase Tourism Lunar habitation Lunar resources
Time-telling and navigation	Lunar calendar Lunisolar calendar Month Lunar month Nodal period Fortnight Sennight Lunar station Lunar distance
Phases and names	New Full Names Crescent Super and micro Blood Blue Dark Wet Tetrad
Daily phenomena	Moonrise Meridian passage Moonset
Related	Lunar deities Lunar effect Earth phase Moon illusion Pareidolia Man in the Moon Moon rabbit Craters named after people Artificial objects on the Moon Memorials on the Moon Moon in science fiction list Apollo era futuristic exploration Hollow Moon Moon landing conspiracy theories Moon Treaty "Moon is made of green cheese" Natural satellite Double planet Lilith (hypothetical second moon) Splitting of the Moon
Category