Damoiseau (crater)

Damoiseau

Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Coordinates	4°51′S61°15′W / 4.85°S 61.25°W / -4.85; -61.25
Diameter	36.66 km (22.78 mi)
Depth	1.2 km (0.75 mi)
Colongitude	61° at sunrise
Eponym	Marie-C.-T. de Damoiseau

The crater area in a Selenochromatic format Image (Si).

Damoiseau is a lunar impact crater that is located just to the west of the Oceanus Procellarum, in the western part of the Moon's near side. It lies due east of the prominent crater Grimaldi, a walled plain with a distinctive dark floor. Due south of Damoiseau is the crater Sirsalis.

The low outer rim of Damoiseau is not quite circular, having an outward protrusion to the northeast and smaller bulges to the north and southeast. The interior floor is irregular and complex, with a series of fractures ^[1] (similar to Vitello). The crater is concentric with a larger, older crater designated Damoiseau M ^[2] that is approximately twice the diameter. This outer feature is missing a rim to the northeast where it intersects the lunar mare.

To the southeast is a rille system named the Rimae Grimaldi. This continues to the west and south, for a maximum dimension of 230 kilometers.

Damoiseau was formally named by the IAU in 1935. ^[3] Its satellite craters were named in 2006.

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 Damoiseau.

Damoiseau	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	6.3° S	62.4° W	47 km
B	8.6° S	61.6° W	23 km
BA	8.3° S	59.0° W	9 km
C	9.1° S	62.5° W	15 km
D	6.4° S	63.3° W	17 km
E	5.2° S	58.3° W	14 km
F	7.9° S	62.1° W	11 km
G	2.5° S	55.6° W	4 km
H	3.8° S	59.8° W	45 km
J	4.1° S	62.0° W	7 km
K	4.6° S	60.4° W	23 km
L	4.5° S	59.3° W	14 km
M	5.1° S	61.3° W	54 km

Oblique view of Damoiseau (right of center) from Lunar Orbiter 3, facing southwest. The flat plain in the foreground is Oceanus Procellarum, and the semi-circular "bay" below center is Damoiseau H. The small crater at far left adjacent to Damoiseau H is Damoiseau L. The south wall of Damoiseau M is visible, concentric with Damoiseau itself. Damoiseau A is behind (above and to the right of) Damoiseau.

Damoiseau A (larger) and D (smaller, at left) craters

References

1. The geologic history of the Moon, 1987, Wilhelms, Don E.; with sections by McCauley, John F.; Trask, Newell J. USGS Professional Paper: 1348. (online)
2. Damoiseau M, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN)
3. Damoiseau, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN)

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