Thales (crater)

Thales

Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Coordinates	61°48′N50°18′E / 61.8°N 50.3°E / 61.8; 50.3
Diameter	32 km
Depth	1.8 km
Colongitude	314° at sunrise
Eponym	Thales

The crater at the top right of a seleochromatic image

Oblique view from Lunar Orbiter 4

Another oblique view from Lunar Orbiter 4

Thales is a small crater located in the northeast part of the Moon, just to the west of the larger crater Strabo. To the southeast is the walled plain De La Rue. Thales has a sharp, circular rim that has received little erosion. The lunar surface around Thales has a ray system that extends for over 600 kilometers, and it is consequently mapped as part of the Copernican System. ^[1] . An area to the north-northwest of the crater is free of rays, however, indicating that the crater may have been formed by a low-angle impact from that direction. The inner wall has some terraces, particularly along the southern side. The sides have a higher albedo than the typical lunar terrain.

This crater has been noted for transient lunar phenomena. In 1892, E. E. Barnard observed a pale haze fill the crater interior, while the surroundings remained clear and sharply visible.

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 Thales.

Thales	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	58.5° N	40.8° E	12 km
E	57.2° N	43.2° E	29 km
F	59.4° N	42.1° E	37 km
G	61.6° N	45.3° E	12 km
H	60.3° N	48.0° E	10 km
W	58.5° N	39.8° E	6 km

References

1. The geologic history of the Moon, 1987, Wilhelms, Don E.; with sections by McCauley, John F.; Trask, Newell J. USGS Professional Paper: 1348. Plate 11: Copernican System (online)

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