Macrobius (crater)

Macrobius
Apollo 17 mapping camera image
Coordinates21°16′N 45°58′E / 21.26°N 45.97°E / 21.26; 45.97
Diameter62.79 km (39.02 mi)
Depth3.9 km[1]
Colongitude314° at sunrise
FormationLower Imbrian[2]
EponymMacrobius
Oblique view from Apollo 17
Satellite craters of Macrobius
Macrobius at center, near the terminator as viewed from Earth, with Mare Crisium to the right

Macrobius is a prominent lunar impact crater located to the northwest of the Mare Crisium.[3] Its diameter is 63 km. It was named after ancient Roman writer Macrobius.[4] It lies on the southeast edge of the Lacus Bonitatis, a small lunar mare. The somewhat smaller crater Tisserand lies just to the east.

On the lunar geologic timescale, Macrobius dates to the Lower (Early) Imbrian age.[2] The outer wall of Macrobius has a multiply terraced inner surface, with some slumping along the top of the rim. The small satellite crater Macrobius C lies across the western rim, but the wall is otherwise relatively free of significant wear. In the center of the floor is a central mountain complex. There is a low ridge in the western interior, but the remainder of the floor is relatively level.

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 Macrobius.

Macrobius Latitude Longitude Diameter
C 20.8° N 45.0° E 10 km
E 18.7° N 46.8° E 10 km
F 22.5° N 48.5° E 11 km
K 21.5° N 40.2° E 12 km
M 25.0° N 41.0° E 42 km
N 22.8° N 40.8° E 5 km
P 23.0° N 39.5° E 18 km
Q 20.4° N 47.6° E 9 km
S 23.3° N 49.6° E 26 km
T 23.8° N 48.6° E 29 km
U 25.0° N 42.8° E 6 km
V 25.4° N 43.3° E 5 km
W 24.8° N 44.6° E 26 km
X 23.0° N 42.2° E 4 km
Y 23.6° N 42.2° E 5 km
Z 24.3° N 42.6° E 5 km

The following craters have been renamed by the IAU.[5]

References

  1. ↑ LTO-43C2 Macrobius — L&PI topographic map
  2. 1 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. Table 10.2.
  3. ↑ Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. pp. 110, 154–159. Reprint: ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3
  4. ↑ "Macrobius". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  5. ↑ Moore, Patrick; Rees, Robin (2014). Patrick Moore's Data Book of Astronomy (2 ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 50–79. ISBN 978-1-139-49522-6.

Sources