Alpetragius (crater)

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Alpetragius
Alpetragius crater 4108 h2.jpg
Coordinates 16°00′S4°30′W / 16.0°S 4.5°W / -16.0; -4.5 Coordinates: 16°00′S4°30′W / 16.0°S 4.5°W / -16.0; -4.5
Diameter 40 km
Depth 3.9 km
Colongitude 5° at sunrise
Eponym Nur ad-Din al-Bitruji
The crater area in a Selenochromatic format Image (Si) Ptolemaeus trium area Si.jpg
The crater area in a Selenochromatic format Image (Si)
Oblique view from Apollo 16 Alpetragius crater AS16-119-19057.jpg
Oblique view from Apollo 16

Alpetragius is a lunar impact crater located on the eastern edge of Mare Nubium, to the southwest of the much larger crater Alphonsus. In the southeast is the prominent crater Arzachel, and to the west lies the flooded Lassell. Alpetragius is a Latinization of the name of Nur ad-Din al-Bitruji, a Spanish-Arab astronomer. [1]

Contents

The most notable feature of this crater is the disproportionately large central peak, which forms a rounded rise that occupies almost the entire crater floorone-third the crater diameterand rises to a height of 2.0 km. There is evidence that this peak has been enlarged through volcanic eruptions, and there appears to be an eroded vent at its summit.[ citation needed ] The rim has fine terraces that slope down to near the edge of the central rise along the south and east sides. This outer wall is nearly round, with slight protrusions on the north and west sides.

Oblique view from Apollo 12 Alpetragius crater AS12-51-7579.jpg
Oblique view from Apollo 12

The outer rim is joined to the southwest rim of Alphonsus by a rise in the surface. An arc of craterous depressions from the south rim of Alphonsus curves to the west, dividing Alpetragius from Arzachel crater. To the west-northwest is the crater-like outline of Alpetragius X, now flooded by the mare and overlain across the east by ejecta from Alpetragius. Alpetragius is similar in appearance to Behaim crater, although Behaim is larger.

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 Alpetragius.

AlpetragiusLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
B15.1° S6.8° W10 km
C13.7° S6.1° W2 km
G18.2° S6.5° W12 km
H18.0° S6.0° W5 km
J18.0° S5.7° W4 km
M16.5° S3.2° W24 km
N16.7° S3.8° W11 km
U17.7° S5.1° W14 km
V18.1° S5.8° W17 km
W17.9° S6.0° W27 km
X15.6° S5.7° W32 km

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References

  1. "Alpetragius (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.