Lunar Orbiter 4 image | |
Coordinates | 54°36′S33°00′E / 54.6°S 33.0°E Coordinates: 54°36′S33°00′E / 54.6°S 33.0°E |
---|---|
Diameter | 120 km |
Depth | 2.8 km |
Colongitude | 326° at sunrise |
Eponym | Johann Hommel |
Hommel is a lunar impact crater located in the southeast section of the Moon, in a region that is deeply impacted with a multitude of impact craters. The most notable craters nearby are Pitiscus to the north; Rosenberger due east; and Nearch to the southeast. The prominent crater Vlacq is nearly attached to the northeast rim. Also nearby is Asclepi to the west. Hommel is about 120 kilometers in diameter and its walls reach heights of 2,800 meters. It is from the Pre-Nectarian period, 4.55 to 3.92 billion years ago. [1] [2]
Lunar craters are impact craters on Earth's Moon. The Moon's surface has many craters, almost all of which were formed by impacts.
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.
The Moon is an astronomical body that orbits planet Earth and is Earth's only permanent natural satellite. It is the fifth-largest natural satellite in the Solar System, and the largest among planetary satellites relative to the size of the planet that it orbits. The Moon is after Jupiter's satellite Io the second-densest satellite in the Solar System among those whose densities are known.
The eroded outer wall of Hommel is overlain and incised by a number of smaller but still sizeable craters. Hommel C overlays the western rim and Hommel A the north. Intruding into the rim are Hommel H to the northwest, Hommel B in the east, and Hommel P along the southern wall. These craters are in turn overlain by smaller craterlets. The crater Hommel D lies on the southern part of the inner floor, incising into the south rim. In the midpoint of the crater is a low central peak. [3]
The crater is named for 16th century German mathematician and astronomer Johann Hommel. [1]
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe, lying between the Baltic and North Seas to the north, and the Alps to the south. It borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, France to the southwest, and Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands to the west.
Johann Hommel was a German astronomer and mathematician.
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Hommel. [4]
Hommel | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
---|---|---|---|
A | 53.7° S | 34.3° E | 51 km |
B | 55.3° S | 37.0° E | 33 km |
C | 54.8° S | 29.6° E | 53 km |
D | 55.8° S | 32.5° E | 28 km |
E | 59.0° S | 31.0° E | 14 km |
F | 58.4° S | 32.0° E | 21 km |
G | 58.1° S | 27.4° E | 30 km |
H | 52.6° S | 30.9° E | 43 km |
HA | 52.0° S | 30.5° E | 8 km |
J | 53.5° S | 27.9° E | 18 km |
K | 55.5° S | 27.0° E | 16 km |
L | 56.1° S | 27.9° E | 18 km |
M | 59.8° S | 27.5° E | 7 km |
N | 59.3° S | 28.8° E | 14 km |
O | 58.5° S | 28.2° E | 6 km |
P | 56.9° S | 31.7° E | 34 km |
Q | 56.1° S | 38.4° E | 29 km |
R | 52.6° S | 32.6° E | 11 km |
S | 56.6° S | 36.2° E | 22 km |
T | 57.6° S | 26.3° E | 22 km |
V | 53.5° S | 33.5° E | 13 km |
X | 60.9° S | 32.2° E | 6 km |
Y | 60.4° S | 30.8° E | 4 km |
Z | 59.8° S | 30.4° E | 4 km |
Aitken is a large lunar impact crater that lies on the far side of the Moon, named for Robert Grant Aitken, an American astronomer specializing in binary stellar systems. It is located to the southeast of the crater Heaviside, and north of the unusual formation Van de Graaff. Attached to the southwest rim is Vertregt. To the southeast is the smaller Bergstrand.
Cleomedes is a prominent lunar impact crater located in the northeast part of the visible Moon, to the north of Mare Crisium. It was named after Greek astronomer Cleomedes. It is surrounded by rough ground with multiple crater impacts. The irregular crater Tralles intrudes into the northwest rim. To the east is Delmotte. North of Cleomedes is a triple-crater formation with Burckhardt occupying the center.
Hevelius is a low-rimmed lunar impact crater that lies at the western edge of the Oceanus Procellarum, named after the astronomer Johannes Hevelius. The smaller but prominent crater Cavalerius is joined to the northern rim by low ridges. Due south of Hevelius is the crater Lohrmann and the dark-hued Grimaldi.
Abulfeda is a lunar impact crater located in the central highlands of the Moon. To the northeast is the crater Descartes, and to the south-southeast is Almanon. To the north is the crater Dollond. A chain of craters named the Catena Abulfeda runs between the southern rim of Abulfeda and the north rim of Almanon, then continues for a length of 210 kilometers across the Rupes Altai. The crater was named for 14th century Syrian-born Kurdish historian Ismael Abul-fida.
Agrippa is a lunar impact crater that is located at the southeast edge of the Mare Vaporum. It is located to the north of the crater Godin, the irregular Tempel lies just to the east. To the north and northeast, the rille designated Rima Ariadaeus follows a course to the east-southeast, reaching the western edge of Mare Tranquillitatis. It is named after the 1st century Greek astronomer Agrippa. Its diameter is 44 km (27 mi).
Alekhin is a lunar impact crater that is located on the southern hemisphere on the far side of the Moon. It lies to the north of the crater Zeeman, and south-southeast of Fizeau. To the west lies Crommelin, and east-southeast is Doerfel.
Asclepi is a heavily eroded lunar impact crater that lies in the rugged southern highlands of the Moon. The outer rim has been worn down and rounded by many millions of years of subsequent impacts, so that it is now nearly level with the surrounding terrain. As a result, the crater is now little more than a depression in the surface. The interior is nearly flat and relatively featureless.
Boss is a lunar impact crater that is located along the northeast rim of the Moon's near side. Due to its location, the crater is viewed from the side by observers on the Earth, and its visibility is subject to libration effects.
Donati is a lunar impact crater that is located in the rugged south-central highlands of the Moon. It lies just to the northwest of the crater Faye, and the two outer rims are separated by a gap of less than 10 kilometers. To the north is the comparably sized Airy, and farther to the southeast is Playfair. Donati is 36 kilometers in diameter.
Mutus is a lunar impact crater that is located in the rugged southern part of the Moon. It lies to the north-northeast of the larger crater Manzinus, and some distance to the south of Hommel. It is 78 kilometers in diameter and 3.7 kilometers deep. It is from the Pre-Nectarian period, 4.55 to 3.92 billion years ago.
Hall is a lunar impact crater in the southeast part of the Lacus Somniorum, a lunar mare in the northeast part of the Moon. It was named after American astronomer Asaph Hall. This feature can be found to the east of the prominent walled plain Posidonius. Just to the south, and nearly attached to the southern rim of Hall is the smaller crater G. Bond.
Pasteur is a large lunar impact crater, approximately 233 kilometers in diameter, belonging to the category termed a walled plain. It was named after French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur. It lies on the far side of the Moon as seen from the Earth, just beyond the eastern limb. The vicinity of this crater is occasionally brought into view from Earth due to librations, although not much detail can be seen.
Planck is a large lunar impact crater, approximately 319 kilometers in diameter, that is located in the southern hemisphere of the Moon, on the far side as seen from the Earth. It lies to the west of the walled plain Poincaré, another enormous formation only slightly larger than Planck. Both formations are larger than the walled plain Bailly, the largest crater on the near side. Lying across the southeast rim of Planck is the crater Prandtl, to the northeast is Hildegard, and to the west is Fechner.
Nearch is a lunar impact crater that is located in the southeastern part of the Moon, to the southeast of the crater Hommel. North of Nearch is Vlacq, and to the northeast lies Rosenberger. The crater is 76 kilometers in diameter and 2.9 kilometers deep. It is from the Pre-Nectarian period, 4.55 to 3.92 billion years ago.
Krusenstern is a lunar impact crater that lies amidst the battered terrain in the southern part of the Moon's near side. Nearly attached to the east-southeast rim is the crater Apianus. Less than one crater diameter to the southwest is the prominent Werner. Krusenstern is intruding into a large circular plain to the north designated Playfair G. Playfair itself lies to the northeast.
Faye is a heavily eroded lunar impact crater in the rugged southern highlands of the Moon. It is named after French astronomer Hervé Faye. It is attached to the northeastern rim of the crater Delaunay, with Donati located just a few kilometers to the northeast. It forms part of a chain of craters of increasing size to the southwest that continues with La Caille and ends with the walled plain Purbach.
Santbech is a lunar impact crater that is located to the southeast of Mare Nectaris. It lies south-southwest of the prominent crater Colombo. About one crater diameter to the east-northeast is the smaller Monge. The terrain around the crater, although rugged in places, has been flooded by lava and so has a low albedo and a relatively flat surface. It was named after the 16th-century Dutch mathematician and astronomer Daniel Santbech Noviomagus. It is from the Pre-Imbrian period, 4.55 to 3.85 billion years ago.
Rosenberger is an old lunar impact crater in the southeastern part of the Moon. It was named after German astronomer Otto August Rosenberger.
Seyfert is a prominent lunar impact crater that is located on the far side of the Moon. It was named after American astronomer Carl Keenan Seyfert. It lies behind the eastern limb of the Moon, to the east of the crater Espin. Just to the north of Seyfert is the crater Harriot and equally close to the south is Polzunov.
Lippmann is a large lunar impact crater in the southern part of the far side of the Moon and so cannot be viewed directly from the Earth. Just to the northeast is the walled plain Mendel, only slightly smaller than Lippmann. To the south-southeast lies the crater Petzval.