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Cleomedes (crater)

Coordinates: 27°42′N 55°30′E / 27.7°N 55.5°E / 27.7; 55.5
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Cleomedes
LRO mosaic
Coordinates27°42′N 55°30′E / 27.7°N 55.5°E / 27.7; 55.5
Diameter126 km
Depth2.7 km
Colongitude304° at sunrise
EponymCleomedes
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 4 image

Cleomedes is a prominent lunar impact crater located in the northeast part of the visible Moon, to the north of Mare Crisium. It was named after Greek astronomer Cleomedes.[1] It is surrounded by rough ground with multiple crater impacts. The irregular crater Tralles intrudes into the northwest rim. To the east is Delmotte. North of Cleomedes is a triple-crater formation with Burckhardt occupying the center.

The outer wall of Cleomedes is heavily worn and eroded, especially along the southern part of the wall. Cleomedes C lies across the south-southwest rim. The crater floor is nearly flat, with a small central peak to the north of the midpoint, forming a linear ridge toward the north-northeast. There are several notable craterlets on the floor, including a pair of overlapping craters just inside the northwest rim.

A rille named Rima Cleomedes crosses the northern floor, running southeast from the northwest rim. This rille branches in a fork after crossing the crater mid-line. Smaller clefts lie in the southeast part of the floor.

Cleomedes is one of the largest craters of Nectarian age.[2]

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 Cleomedes.

Cleomedes Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 28.9° N 55.0° E 12 km
B 27.2° N 55.9° E 11 km
C 25.7° N 54.9° E 14 km
D 29.3° N 61.9° E 25 km
E 28.6° N 54.4° E 21 km
F 22.6° N 56.9° E 12 km
G 24.0° N 57.3° E 20 km
H 22.4° N 57.6° E 6 km
J 26.9° N 56.8° E 10 km
L 23.8° N 54.4° E 7 km
M 24.2° N 51.6° E 6 km
N 24.8° N 52.5° E 6 km
P 24.8° N 56.4° E 9 km
Q 24.9° N 56.9° E 4 km
R 29.5° N 60.2° E 15 km
S 29.5° N 59.0° E 8 km
T 25.8° N 57.7° E 11 km

References

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  1. ^ "Cleomedes (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. ^ The geologic history of the Moon. USGS Professional Paper 1348. By Don E. Wilhelms, John F. McCauley, and Newell J. Trask. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington: 1987. Table 9-4.
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