Fraunhofer (crater)

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Fraunhofer
Fraunhoffer crater 4059 h2.jpg
Coordinates 39°30′S59°06′E / 39.5°S 59.1°E / -39.5; 59.1 Coordinates: 39°30′S59°06′E / 39.5°S 59.1°E / -39.5; 59.1
Diameter 56 km
Depth 1.5 km
Colongitude 302° at sunrise
Eponym Joseph von Fraunhofer
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 4 image, facing northwest Fraunhofer crater 4184 h2.jpg
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 4 image, facing northwest

Fraunhofer is a lunar impact crater that is located just to the south-southwest of the walled plain Furnerius, in the southeastern part of the Moon. This crater appears foreshortened when viewed from the Earth, and is actually nearly circular.

This crater has undergone some erosion from lesser impacts, particularly along the northern part of the rim. The satellite crater Fraunhofer V lies along the northwestern edge and part of the inner wall. A pair of smaller craters also lie along the northern rim. The remainder of the rim is relatively intact, with small craterlets along parts of the inner wall. The interior floor is nearly level and is marked by several small craterlets. The southern two thirds of the floor has a slightly lower albedo than the northern part.

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 Fraunhofer.

FraunhoferLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
A39.6° S61.7° E29 km
B41.8° S67.3° E36 km
C42.9° S64.7° E38 km
D43.1° S69.0° E17 km
E43.4° S61.7° E42 km
F41.7° S59.8° E16 km
G38.5° S58.3° E11 km
H40.8° S61.7° E43 km
J42.4° S63.6° E63 km
K42.5° S69.3° E16 km
L42.1° S68.8° E8 km
M40.9° S65.6° E21 km
N40.9° S64.4° E12 km
R43.5° S68.7° E11 km
S43.1° S69.9° E13 km
T37.9° S55.7° E8 km
U40.2° S65.1° E24 km
V39.0° S58.0° E24 km
W39.4° S62.8° E18 km
X39.7° S60.6° E6 km
Y40.2° S63.0° E13 km
Z39.9° S63.9° E14 km

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