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Lexell (crater)

Coordinates: 35°48′S 4°12′W / 35.8°S 4.2°W / -35.8; -4.2
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Lexell
Lexell crater and its satellite craters taken from Earth in 2012 at the University of Hertfordshire's Bayfordbury Observatory with the telescopes Meade LX200 14" and Lumenera Skynyx 2-1
Coordinates35°48′S 4°12′W / 35.8°S 4.2°W / -35.8; -4.2
Diameter63 km
Depth2.2 km
Colongitude5° at sunrise
EponymAnders Johan Lexell

Lexell is a lunar impact crater that lies across the southeastern rim of the huge walled plain Deslandres, in the southern part of the Moon. It was named after Swedish-Russian mathematician and astronomer Anders Johan Lexell.[1] To the northeast is the walled plain Walther, and to the south is Orontius, another walled plain.

This is a somewhat irregular formation with a wide break in the northern rim. The western rim forms a low, arcing wall, and is overlain to the southwest by Lexell H after passing the rim of Deslandres. The rim peaks along the southeast, then comes to an end at a rugged promontory-like ridge. The interior floor has been resurfaced by lava to the northwest and in sections of the remainder of the floor. There are some low rises and ghost-crater rims in the southeast half part of the interior floor.

Satellite craters

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

Lexell Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 36.9° S 1.4° W 34 km
B 37.3° S 3.4° W 23 km
D 36.1° S 0.7° W 20 km
E 37.2° S 0.4° W 16 km
F 36.5° S 5.4° W 8 km
G 37.2° S 4.9° W 10 km
H 36.5° S 4.9° W 10 km
K 35.9° S 6.4° W 10 km
L 36.0° S 6.0° W 8 km

References

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