Compton (crater)

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Compton
Compton crater 5181 med.jpg
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 5 image, facing west
Coordinates 55°18′N103°48′E / 55.3°N 103.8°E / 55.3; 103.8 Coordinates: 55°18′N103°48′E / 55.3°N 103.8°E / 55.3; 103.8
Diameter 162 km
Depth Unknown
Colongitude 260° at sunrise
Eponym Arthur H. Compton
Karl T. Compton
Oblique view from Apollo 16 Compton crater AS16-M-3008.jpg
Oblique view from Apollo 16
Lunar Orbiter 4 image showing surroundings Compton crater 4140 med.jpg
Lunar Orbiter 4 image showing surroundings

Compton is a prominent lunar impact crater that is located in the northern hemisphere on the far side of the Moon. It lies to the east of the Mare Humboldtianum, and southwest of the walled plain Schwarzschild. To the southeast of Compton is the heavily eroded crater Swann.

This formation is roughly circular, with a wide, irregular outer rim that varies considerably in width. Parts of the inner wall have terraced steps that form wide shelves along the edge. Within the wall is a floor that has been resurfaced by lava flows some time in the past. This surface has a lower albedo than the surroundings, giving it a slightly darker hue.

At the midpoint of the floor is a formation of mounts that comprise the central peak. This peak is surrounded by a semi-circular ring of hills that lie in the western half of the crater at a radius about half that of the inner edge of the rim. These mounts form jagged rises through the lava-covered surface and lie at irregular intervals from each other.

The interior also contains a set of slender rilles within the ring of hills, primarily in the northwest part of the crater floor. Apart from a small, bowl-shaped crater near the eastern rim, the floor only contains a few tiny craters.

Compton is one of the largest craters of Lower (Early) Imbrian age. [1]

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 Compton.

ComptonLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
E55.4° N113.4° E19 km
R52.6° N91.5° E37 km
W58.6° N97.2° E16 km

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References

  1. The geologic history of the Moon. USGS Professional Paper 1348. By Don E. Wilhelms, John F. McCauley, and Newell J. Trask. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington: 1987. Table 10.2.