Helicon (crater)

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Helicon
Helicon crater 4134 h2.jpg
Coordinates 40°24′N23°06′W / 40.4°N 23.1°W / 40.4; -23.1
Diameter 25 km
Depth 0.5 km
Colongitude 23° at sunrise
Eponym Helicon of Cyzicus
Helicon (top right) area in selenochromatic format holding some normal (yellow)/pyroclastic(red) selenochromatic landmarks Oceanus Procellarum Si Barbero Zetta Ferruggia.jpg
Helicon (top right) area in selenochromatic format holding some normal (yellow)/pyroclastic(red) selenochromatic landmarks
Highly oblique view of Helicon (left) and Le Verrier (right). The mountain on the horizon at left is Promontorium Laplace, about 180 km beyond Helicon. Note that Helicon's ejecta is buried by the mare lava, but Le Verrier's is not. From Apollo 15. Helicon crater Le Verrier crater AS15-M-1554.jpg
Highly oblique view of Helicon (left) and Le Verrier (right). The mountain on the horizon at left is Promontorium Laplace, about 180 km beyond Helicon. Note that Helicon's ejecta is buried by the mare lava, but Le Verrier's is not. From Apollo 15.
Another oblique view of Helicon (left), at a higher sun angle. Also from Apollo 15. Helicon crater AS15-81-10976.jpg
Another oblique view of Helicon (left), at a higher sun angle. Also from Apollo 15.

Helicon is a small lunar impact crater that is located on the north part of the Mare Imbrium. The crater was named after 4th century BC Greek astronomer Helicon of Cyzicus, [1] a friend and disciple of Plato. [2] To the northwest is the prominent Sinus Iridum, a mountain-ringed bay on the mare. Just to the east is the slightly smaller crater Le Verrier.

Contents

Helicon is a nearly circular formation with inner walls that curve down to a relatively flat floor. There is a tiny craterlet located at the midpoint of the interior, and a small craterlet along the southwestern rim.

Satellite craters

According to convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Helicon.

HeliconLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
B38.0° N21.3° W6 km
C40.1° N26.2° W1 km
E40.5° N24.1° W3 km
G41.7° N24.9° W2 km

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References

  1. "Helicon (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain :  Mason, Charles Peter (1870). "Helicon". In Smith, William (ed.). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology . Vol. 2. p. 372.