Gaudibert (crater)

Gaudibert
Coordinates10°56′S 37°49′E / 10.93°S 37.82°E / -10.93; 37.82
Diameter33.14 km (20.59 mi)
Depth1.6 km (0.99 mi)
Colongitude323° at sunrise
EponymCasimir M. Gaudibert
Apollo 12 image
Apollo 16 image, facing south: Gaudibert in lower right, satellite craters A and B ("ghost craters") above center, and J at left.

Gaudibert is a lunar impact crater that lies along the northeast edge of Mare Nectaris in the eastern part of the Moon's near side. Just to the east is the Montes Pyrenaeus mountain chain, and to the northeast beyond the mountains is the crater Gutenberg. Northwest of Gaudibert is the crater pair Isidorus and Capella.

On the lunar geologic timescale, Gaudibert dates from the Nectarian period.[1] This crater has a low rim and an irregular interior that makes it a relatively inconspicuous formation. The rim is roughly circular but somewhat uneven in outline. On the inner floor are several ridges that divide up the interior into several minor peaks and valleys. This is a floor-fractured crater[2][1] with a pronounced V-shaped moat between the inner wall and the floor.[3] A pair of bowl-shaped craters are attached to the southern edge of the crater rim.

To the south of Gaudibert is a formation of several ghost craters, of which the most notable are Gaudibert A and Gaudibert B. These are best viewed when the sun is at a low angle, resulting in greater contrast and shadows.

The crater was named after French astronomer Casimir Marie Gaudibert by the IAU in 1935.[4]

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 Gaudibert.

Gaudibert Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 12.2° S 37.9° E 21 km
B 12.3° S 38.5° E 21 km
C 11.5° S 37.8° E 9 km
D 10.5° S 36.3° E 5 km
H 13.8° S 36.7° E 11 km
J 11.1° S 39.1° E 10 km

References

  1. 1 2 Purohit, Suchit; et al. (October 10, 2018). "Automatic crater classification framework based on shape parameters". Current Science. 115 (7). Current Science Association: 1351–1358. JSTOR 26978409.
  2. ↑ 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. doi:10.3133/pp1348.
  3. ↑ Jozwiak, Lauren M.; et al. (November 2012). "Lunar floor-fractured craters: Classification, distribution, origin and implications for magmatism and shallow crustal structure". Journal of Geophysical Research. 117 (E11) E11005. Bibcode:2012JGRE..11711005J. doi:10.1029/2012JE004134. hdl:1721.1/85651.
  4. ↑ Gaudibert, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN)

Sources

  • Lunar Photo of the Day, "Land of Manna", October 5, 2006, showing Gaudibert and a similar nearby crater, Censorius C