Moretus (crater)

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Moretus
Moretus (LRO).png
LRO image
Coordinates 70°36′S5°30′W / 70.6°S 5.5°W / -70.6; -5.5 Coordinates: 70°36′S5°30′W / 70.6°S 5.5°W / -70.6; -5.5
Diameter 114 km
Depth 5.0 km
Colongitude 7° at sunrise
Eponym Theodorus Moretus
Lunar Orbiter 4 image. Moretus crater 4130 h2.jpg
Lunar Orbiter 4 image.

Moretus is a lunar impact crater located in the heavily cratered highland region near the south pole of the Moon.

South of Moretus, the crater Short is located, while to the north is Cysatus. To the northwest lies Gruemberger, and Curtius is located to the northeast. Due to the location near the lunar limb, the crater appears oblong because of foreshortening. The crater is named after the 17th-century Flemish mathematician and geometer Theodorus Moretus.

The rim of the crater has a wide, terraced inner wall, and a complex outer rampart. The floor has been partly resurfaced and is relatively flat. In the middle is a central mountain formation that rises about 2.1 kilometers above the surrounding floor.

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 Moretus.

MoretusLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
A70.4° S13.8° W32 km
C72.6° S11.2° W17 km

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