Appleton (crater)

Last updated
Appleton
Appleton crater LRO WAC.jpg
LRO image
Coordinates 37°03′N158°10′E / 37.05°N 158.17°E / 37.05; 158.17
Diameter 64.59 km (40.13 mi)
Depth Unknown
Colongitude 203° at sunrise
Eponym Edward V. Appleton
Oblique view Appleton crater from Apollo 13 Appleton crater AS13-60-8653.jpg
Oblique view Appleton crater from Apollo 13

Appleton is a heavily eroded lunar impact crater that lies in the northern hemisphere on the far side of the Moon. To the northwest are the craters Von Neumann and Campbel. The smaller Golovin lies to the northeast, while further to the southwest is the Mare Moscoviense.

Contents

The crater wall and interior have been heavily eroded by many subsequent impacts, leaving the features rounded and irregular. A pair of craters lie across the southwestern rim, and two small craters lie along the eastern rim. The interior floor is irregular.

Prior to formal naming by the IAU in 1970, [1] Appleton was called Crater 129. [2]

Appleton lies between satellite craters that are located on opposite sides of the rim. Appleton R is located just to the west-southwest, and contains another crater just inside its north rim. On the opposite side of Appleton is Appleton D, a comparably sized formation to Appleton R.

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 Appleton.

AppletonLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
D38.0° N160.6° E37 km
M33.9° N158.3° E21 km
Q34.3° N155.3° E26 km
R36.2° N156.2° E39 km

References

  1. Appleton, 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