Tacitus (crater)

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Tacitus
Tacitus crater LRO WAC.jpg
LRO WAC mosaic
Coordinates 16°12′S19°00′E / 16.2°S 19.0°E / -16.2; 19.0 Coordinates: 16°12′S19°00′E / 16.2°S 19.0°E / -16.2; 19.0
Diameter 40 km
Depth 2.8 km
Colongitude 340° at sunrise
Eponym Cornelius Tacitus
Selenochromatic Image (Si) of the crater area Theophilus-Nectaris zone Si.jpg
Selenochromatic Image (Si) of the crater area
Lunar Orbiter 4 image Tacitus crater 4089 h2.jpg
Lunar Orbiter 4 image

Tacitus is a lunar impact crater located to the northwest of the crater Catharina, at the northern extension of the Rupes Altai ridge line. It was named after the 1st century Roman historian and writer Tacitus. [1] Directly west is the crater Almanon, and to the northeast is Cyrillus. To the southeast of Tacitus is a long chain of craters named the Catena Abulfeda. This chain runs to the northwest from the eastern edge of the Rupes Altai, continuing for over 200 kilometers.

Contents

The crater terminates a ridge which forms part of the Rupes Altai. The outer wall has a small rampart, and the interior surfaces are terraced. The rim outline has a slight polygonal outline. There is a low ridge on the crater floor running from the north wall.

Satellite craters

Satellite craters of Tacitus Tacitus sattelite craters map.jpg
Satellite craters of Tacitus

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

TacitusLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
A17.4° S20.5° E11 km
B14.0° S20.4° E13 km
C13.6° S19.8° E9 km
D13.5° S21.0° E15 km
E13.9° S20.1° E9 km
F17.1° S17.6° E10 km
G17.4° S18.2° E6 km
H17.8° S18.5° E7 km
J14.9° S19.7° E3 km
K13.1° S20.1° E3 km
L14.4° S20.9° E6 km
M13.9° S21.5° E6 km
N16.9° S19.4° E7 km
O14.0° S21.9° E5 km
Q18.0° S20.5° E5 km
R16.7° S19.7° E5 km
S14.5° S19.1° E10 km
X15.8° S18.2° E4 km

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References

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