Rittenhouse (crater)
![]() Lunar Orbiter 4 image | |
| Coordinates | 74°30′S 106°30′E / 74.5°S 106.5°E |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 27.50 km (17.09 mi)[1] |
| Depth | 3.15 km (1.96 mi)[2] |
| Colongitude | 255° at sunrise |
| Eponym | David Rittenhouse |

Rittenhouse is a small lunar impact crater that is located in the southern part of the Moon's far side.[3] It lies amidst the western outer ramparts of the immense walled plain called Schrödinger. To the west is the prominent crater Hale, just visible from the Earth along the lunar limb.
This is a rounded but not quite circular formation, with a slightly boxy appearance. The rim edge is sharply defined and has received little wear from minor impacts. The inner wall is almost featureless, sloping smoothly down to the rugged and irregular interior.
This crater is named after American inventor, astronomer, and mathematician David Rittenhouse (1732-1796). Its designation was formally adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1970.[1]
References
- 1 2 "Rittenhouse". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
- ↑ Joshi, Maitri P. (February 2017). "Physical properties of lunar craters". Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics. 17 (3). id. 24. Bibcode:2017RAA....17...24J. doi:10.1088/1674-4527/17/3/24.
- ↑ Moore, Patrick (2000). The Data Book of Astronomy. CRC Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-4200-3344-1.
Sources
- Andersson, L. E.; Whitaker, E. A. (1982). NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature. NASA RP-1097.
- Blue, Jennifer (July 25, 2007). "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature". USGS. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
- 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.
- Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
- Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 978-1-85233-193-1.
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