Bettinus (crater)

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Bettinus
Bettinus crater 4154 h3.jpg
Coordinates 63°24′S45°10′W / 63.40°S 45.16°W / -63.40; -45.16 Coordinates: 63°24′S45°10′W / 63.40°S 45.16°W / -63.40; -45.16
Diameter 72 km
Depth 3.8 km
Colongitude 45° at sunrise
Eponym Mario Bettinus

Bettinus is a lunar impact crater located near the southwest limb. Due to its location, the crater has a distinctly oval shape because of foreshortening. To the south of the rim is the similar-sized crater Kircher, and to the northwest is the slightly smaller Zucchius. From the west to the southwest, closer to the limb, is the giant formation Bailly.

Lunar craters

Lunar craters are impact craters on Earth's Moon. The Moon's surface has many craters, almost all of which were formed by impacts.

Impact crater Circular depression on a solid astronomical body formed by a hypervelocity impact of a smaller object

An impact crater is an approximately circular depression in the surface of a planet, moon, or other solid body in the Solar System or elsewhere, formed by the hypervelocity impact of a smaller body. In contrast to volcanic craters, which result from explosion or internal collapse, impact craters typically have raised rims and floors that are lower in elevation than the surrounding terrain. Impact craters range from small, simple, bowl-shaped depressions to large, complex, multi-ringed impact basins. Meteor Crater is a well-known example of a small impact crater on Earth.

Kircher (crater)

Kircher is a lunar impact crater that is located in the south-southwestern part of the Moon, near the southern limb. In this position the crater appears foreshortened when viewed from the Earth. It is less than one crater diameter due south of the crater Bettinus, and is nearly attached to Wilson along the south-southeast rim of Kircher.

The rim of Bettinus is only somewhat worn, with an inner wall that is wider to the northwest. The interior floor is relatively flat, with a central rise that is offset to the west of the midpoint. There is a small crater along the eastern rim.

Bettinus lies due south of the Schiller-Zucchius Basin.

Schiller-Zucchius Basin

The Schiller-Zucchius Basin is a Pre-Nectarian impact basin on the near side of the moon. It is named after the elongated crater Schiller at the northeast margin and fresh crater Zucchius near the southwest margin. This basin has received the unofficial designation 'Schiller Annular Plain' among lunar observers.

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 Bettinus.

BettinusCoordinatesDiameter, km
A 64°53′S49°02′W / 64.88°S 49.03°W / -64.88; -49.03 (Bettinus A) 26
B 63°32′S51°19′W / 63.54°S 51.31°W / -63.54; -51.31 (Bettinus B) 25
C 63°20′S38°05′W / 63.33°S 38.09°W / -63.33; -38.09 (Bettinus C) 23
D 65°00′S46°37′W / 65.00°S 46.61°W / -65.00; -46.61 (Bettinus D) 10
E 63°13′S42°23′W / 63.21°S 42.38°W / -63.21; -42.38 (Bettinus E) 8
F 62°58′S44°01′W / 62.97°S 44.02°W / -62.97; -44.02 (Bettinus F) 7
G 61°36′S44°44′W / 61.60°S 44.74°W / -61.60; -44.74 (Bettinus G) 6
H 64°37′S43°49′W / 64.62°S 43.82°W / -64.62; -43.82 (Bettinus H) 8

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References

Ewen Whitaker British astronomer

Ewen Adair Whitaker was a British-born astronomer who specialized in lunar studies. During World War II he was engaged in quality control for the lead sheathing of hollow cables strung under the English Channel as part of the "Pipe Line Under The Ocean" Project (PLUTO) to supply gasoline to Allied military vehicles in France. After the war, he obtained a position at the Royal Greenwich Observatory working on the UV spectra of stars, but became interested in lunar studies. As a sideline, Whitaker drew and published the first accurate chart of the South Polar area of the Moon in 1954, and served as director of the Lunar Section of the British Astronomical Association.

NASA space-related agency of the United States government

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research.

United States Geological Survey Scientific agency of the United States government

The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The USGS is a fact-finding research organization with no regulatory responsibility.