Holden (lunar crater)

Last updated
Holden
Holden crater 4184 h1.jpg
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Coordinates 19°11′S62°32′E / 19.19°S 62.53°E / -19.19; 62.53 Coordinates: 19°11′S62°32′E / 19.19°S 62.53°E / -19.19; 62.53
Diameter 48 km
Depth 4.0 km
Colongitude 298° at sunrise
Eponym Edward S. Holden
Oblique view from Apollo 15 Holden crater AS15-M-2527.jpg
Oblique view from Apollo 15

Holden is a lunar impact crater attached to the southeast rim of the much larger crater Vendelinus. The crater rim is impacted by a craterlet on the north-northwest, and it possesses a terrace along the northeast interior wall. The floor of the crater is flat with no central peak. There is a small crater on the floor just to the south of the midpoint. It is named after Edward Singleton Holden. A crater with the same name exists on Mars.

Lunar craters

Lunar craters are impact craters on Earth's Moon. The Moon's surface has many craters, almost all of which were formed by impacts.

Impact crater Circular depression on a solid astronomical body formed by a hypervelocity impact of a smaller object

An impact crater is an approximately circular depression in the surface of a planet, moon, or other solid body in the Solar System or elsewhere, formed by the hypervelocity impact of a smaller body. In contrast to volcanic craters, which result from explosion or internal collapse, impact craters typically have raised rims and floors that are lower in elevation than the surrounding terrain. Impact craters range from small, simple, bowl-shaped depressions to large, complex, multi-ringed impact basins. Meteor Crater is a well-known example of a small impact crater on Earth.

Vendelinus (crater) lunar crater

Vendelinus is an ancient lunar impact crater located on the eastern edge of Mare Fecunditatis. To the north of Vendelinus is the prominent crater Langrenus, while to the southeast is Petavius, forming a chain of prominent craters near the eastern rim. Due to its location, the crater appears oblong due to foreshortening.

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 Holden.

HoldenCoordinatesDiameter, km
R 20°49′S60°59′E / 20.82°S 60.99°E / -20.82; 60.99 (Holden R) 18
S 20°25′S61°34′E / 20.41°S 61.56°E / -20.41; 61.56 (Holden S) 14
T 19°01′S64°10′E / 19.02°S 64.17°E / -19.02; 64.17 (Holden T) 9
V 18°34′S62°04′E / 18.57°S 62.07°E / -18.57; 62.07 (Holden V) 12
W 18°55′S60°01′E / 18.91°S 60.02°E / -18.91; 60.02 (Holden W) 12

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References

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.

United States Geological Survey Scientific agency of the United States government

The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The USGS is a fact-finding research organization with no regulatory responsibility.