Furnerius (crater)

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Furnerius
Furnerius crater 4184 h2.jpg
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 4 image, facing west
Coordinates 36°18′S60°24′E / 36.3°S 60.4°E / -36.3; 60.4 Coordinates: 36°18′S60°24′E / 36.3°S 60.4°E / -36.3; 60.4
Diameter 125 km
Depth 3.5 km
Colongitude 300° at sunrise
Eponym Georges Fournier

Furnerius is a large lunar impact crater located in the southeast part of the Moon, in the area close to the southeastern limb of the nearside or visible Moon. Because of its location, the crater appears oval in shape due to foreshortening but is actually nearly circular. Notable nearby craters include Stevinus to the northwest and Fraunhofer to the south-southwest. Farther to the northwest is the crater Snellius and the Vallis Snellius crater valley.

Contents

The rim of Furnerius is worn and battered, with multiple impacts along its length and notches along the base. Much of the wall now rises only slightly above the surrounding terrain, with the lowest sections to the north and south. However the northern wall rises to a maximum elevation of 3.5 km.

The interior floor is marked by fourteen notable craters, the most notable being Furnerius B in the northern half which has a central rise. Dark patches on the floor indicate areas resurfaced by lava. In the northeast part of the floor is a rille designated Rima Furnerius. This cleft is about 50 kilometers in length and follows a course to the northwest where it reaches the north rim of the crater.

In Johann H. Schröter's lunar study of 1791, he sketched this crater with a low dome in the southern half. This feature has proven difficult to identify in subsequent lunar photographs and observations.

The Japanese satellite named Hiten crash-landed in the vicinity of this crater in 1993.

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 Furnerius.

Oblique regional view with Stevinus at center, and two small bright craters with prominent ray systems: Stevinus A at right and Furnerius A at left. From Apollo 13. Stevinus crater AS13-60-8688.jpg
Oblique regional view with Stevinus at center, and two small bright craters with prominent ray systems: Stevinus A at right and Furnerius A at left. From Apollo 13.
FurneriusLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
A33.5° S59.0° E12 km
B35.5° S59.9° E22 km
C33.7° S57.8° E22 km
D37.0° S55.9° E16 km
E34.8° S57.1° E22 km
F36.2° S64.0° E43 km
G38.2° S65.4° E34 km
H37.6° S69.5° E44 km
J34.8° S64.2° E24 km
K38.1° S68.1° E36 km
L38.6° S69.9° E13 km
N33.6° S61.1° E9 km
P38.0° S61.8° E18 km
Q39.5° S67.3° E30 km
R39.9° S69.1° E17 km
S39.1° S68.0° E15 km
T37.8° S63.1° E10 km
U35.7° S68.2° E20 km
V35.7° S65.6° E58 km
W37.1° S71.1° E32 km
X33.9° S63.6° E8 km
Y34.3° S65.2° E12 km
Z33.5° S63.0° E8 km

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