Ginzel (crater)

Last updated • 1 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Ginzel
Ginzel crater LROC.jpg
Ginzel crater and its satellite crater Ginzel L to the south
Coordinates 14°18′N97°24′E / 14.3°N 97.4°E / 14.3; 97.4 Coordinates: 14°18′N97°24′E / 14.3°N 97.4°E / 14.3; 97.4
Diameter 55 km
Depth Unknown
Colongitude 263° at sunrise
Eponym Friedrich K. Ginzel

Ginzel is a lunar impact crater that is located on the far side of the Moon, just beyond the eastern limb. It is named after the Austrian astronomer Friedrich Karl Ginzel. [1] It lies at the eastern edge of the Mare Marginis, in a region of the surface that is sometimes brought into sight of the Earth due to libration. To the north-northeast of Ginzel is the crater Popov, and Dreyer lies due south.

Oblique Apollo 14 Hasselblad camera image
Dreyer and Ginzel and several of their satellite craters. From center, Ginzel is at approximately 12:00, and Dreyer is at approximately 8:00. Ginzel G and H are at 3:00 and 4:00. Ginzel L is due south of Ginzel. Dreyer crater Ginzel crater AS14-71-9889.jpg
Oblique Apollo 14 Hasselblad camera image
Dreyer and Ginzel and several of their satellite craters. From center, Ginzel is at approximately 12:00, and Dreyer is at approximately 8:00. Ginzel G and H are at 3:00 and 4:00. Ginzel L is due south of Ginzel.

Much of the rim and interior of Ginzel have been flooded, leaving only a faint trace of the rim in the otherwise relatively level surface. The western rim projects more prominently above the surrounding irregular plain. The flooded satellite crater Ginzel L is attached to the southern part of the rim, and a small craterlet lies across the rim to the north. Within the interior is a pair of joined small craterlets in the western half. The interior is otherwise nearly featureless.

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 Ginzel.

GinzelLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
G13.7° N100.2° E42 km
H12.7° N100.1° E50 km
L13.1° N97.8° E28 km

Related Research Articles

References

  1. "Ginzel (crater)" . Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
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.

Ben J. Bussey is an American planetary scientist.