Dionysius (crater)

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Dionysius
Dionysius crater 4090 h1.jpg
Coordinates 2°48′N17°18′E / 2.8°N 17.3°E / 2.8; 17.3
Diameter 18 km
Depth 2.7 km
Colongitude 343° at sunrise
Eponym St. Dionysius
The crater area in a Selenochromatic format Image (Si) Dionysius crater Area Si.jpg
The crater area in a Selenochromatic format Image (Si)
Oblique view from Apollo 15, showing the bright rays Dionysius crater AS15-M-2559.jpg
Oblique view from Apollo 15, showing the bright rays
Another view from Apollo 15 Dionysius crater AS15-81-10999.jpg
Another view from Apollo 15
Detail of the interior from Lunar Orbiter 5 Dionysius crater 5083 med.jpg
Detail of the interior from Lunar Orbiter 5

Dionysius is a lunar impact crater that lies on the western edge of the Mare Tranquillitatis. It was named after Dionysius the Areopagite. [1] To the southeast is the crater pair of Ritter and Sabine. Just to the northwest is the system of rilles designated Rimae Ritter. These clefts follow a generally northwest direction.

Contents

The rim of Dionysius is generally circular and shows little sign of wear. The crater possesses a small ray system with a radius of over 130 kilometers. The formation has a high albedo and appears bright when the Sun is nearly overhead during a full Moon. It is surrounded by a bright halo, with darker material farther out. Some darker deposits are in the form of relatively rare dark rays.

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 Dionysius.

DionysiusLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
A1.7° N17.6° E3 km
B3.0° N15.8° E4 km

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References

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