Alter (crater)

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Alter
Alter crater 5015 h2.jpg
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 5 image, facing west
Coordinates 18°44′N107°48′W / 18.74°N 107.80°W / 18.74; -107.80
Diameter 64.73 km (40.22 mi)
Depth Unknown
Colongitude 108° at sunrise
Eponym Dinsmore Alter
Satellite craters of Alter AlterCraterSAT.jpg
Satellite craters of Alter

Alter is a lunar impact crater that is located in the northern hemisphere on the far side of the Moon. It lies to the southwest of the larger crater Robertson, and to the east of Ohm.

Contents

The outer rim of Alter has been degraded by subsequent erosion, most notably at the northern and southern extremes. There is a small crater lying across the south-southeast rim. A cleft runs across the floor from the southern rim toward the north-northeast. Ray material cross the crater floor from the east, forming a pair of faint bands.

Prior to formal naming by the IAU in 1970, [1] Alter was called Crater 257. [2] The crater Alter W, to the northwest of Alter, was called Crater 255. A crater that is currently unnamed, between Alter W and Comrie K, was called Crater 254.

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 Alter.

AlterLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
K16.3° N106.0° W22 km
W20.4° N109.2° W52 km

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References

  1. Alter, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN)
  2. Lunar Farside Chart (LFC-1A), 2nd Edition October 1967