Saussure (crater)

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Saussure
Saussure crater 4119 h2.jpg
Coordinates 43°18′S3°48′W / 43.3°S 3.8°W / -43.3; -3.8
Diameter 54 km
Depth 1.8 km
Colongitude 187° at sunrise
Eponym H-B de Saussure

Saussure is a lunar impact crater. It is located in the crater-riddled terrain in the southern hemisphere of the Moon's near side. Just to the north and nearly attached to the rim is the larger crater Orontius. About a half crater diameter due west is the slightly larger crater Pictet. Just to the east is a curving ridge in the surface, possibly the remains of a crater that has been almost completely overlaid by Saussure.

The outer rim of Saussure is worn but relatively intact, with only the southern edge being somewhat disrupted. A small impact lies across the northeastern rim and a pair of craterlets along the western edge. The inner walls are relatively featureless, and slope down to the generally level interior floor. This bottom surface is marked only by a few tiny craters.

It was named after 18th century Genevan geologist Horace Bénédict de Saussure. [1] He was the professor, and later colleague and friend of Marc-Auguste Pictet (eponym of nearby Pictet crater).[ citation needed ]

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 Saussure.

SaussureLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
A43.8° S0.5° W19 km
B42.2° S3.9° W5 km
C44.8° S0.6° W16 km
Ca45.2° S0.5° W16 km
D46.9° S0.2° E20 km
E44.7° S2.1° W12 km
F44.3° S4.6° W4 km

References

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