Sierpinski (crater)

Sierpinski
LRO image
Coordinates27°12′S 154°30′E / 27.2°S 154.5°E / -27.2; 154.5
Diameter69 km
DepthUnknown
Colongitude206° at sunrise
FormationNectarian[1]
EponymWacław F. Sierpiński
Oblique view facing south from Apollo 17
Another view from Apollo 17

Sierpinski is a lunar impact crater on the far side of the Moon.[2] It lies to the southeast of the huge walled plain called Gagarin, and to the northwest of the crater O'Day and the Mare Ingenii.

On the lunar geologic timescale, Sierpinski dates to the Nectarian period.[1] This crater has undergone some wear, particularly along the southwest where Sierpinski Q intrudes slightly into the inner wall. The rim is higher and the inner wall wider along the eastern side. There is a prominent ridge within the interior that extends from near the midpoint to the northern inner wall. There are several small craters along the inner wall in the north and northwest. Only a small portion of the interior floor along the western half 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 Sierpinski.

Sierpinski Latitude Longitude Diameter
Q 28.3° S 153.6° E 15 km

References

  1. 1 2 Moriarty, D. P.; Pieters, C. M. (March 2018). "The Character of South Pole-Aitken Basin: Patterns of Surface and Subsurface Composition". Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 123 (3): 729–747. Bibcode:2018JGRE..123..729M. doi:10.1002/2017JE005364.
  2. ↑ Moore, Patrick (2000). The Data Book of Astronomy. CRC Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-4200-3344-1.

Sources