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Gruithuisen (crater)

Coordinates: 32°54′N 39°42′W / 32.9°N 39.7°W / 32.9; -39.7
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Gruithuisen
Coordinates32°54′N 39°42′W / 32.9°N 39.7°W / 32.9; -39.7
Diameter16 km
Depth1.9 km
Colongitude40° at sunrise
EponymFranz von Paula Gruithuisen
Gruithuisen area (top) in selenochromatic format holding some normal (yellow)/pyroclastic(red) selenochromatic landmarks
Gruithuisen with satellite features (detail of LRO - WAC global moon mosaic; Mercator projection)
Oblique view from Apollo 15. NASA photo.

Gruithuisen is a lunar impact crater that lies on the section of lunar mare that joins Oceanus Procellarum in the west to Mare Imbrium in the east. Southeast of Gruithuisen is the small crater Delisle. To the south is Dorsum Bucher, a wrinkle ridge running in a north–south direction for about 90 kilometers.

The rim of Gruithuisen is relatively smooth and circular, projecting only slightly above the surrounding mare. The interior is relatively featureless with a small floor, with mounds of material deposited along the edges of the sloping inner walls.

Lunar Orbiter 4 image of Mons Gruithuisen Delta (right) and Gamma (left)

To the north of the crater, along the edge of the highland peninsula between the two maria is a domed mountainous rise that is designated Mons Gruithuisen Gamma (γ). Just to the east of this feature is another mountainous rise named Mons Gruithuisen Delta (δ). Northwest of Gruithuisen crater is concentrated cluster of several craterlets, which was most likely formed from a single body that broke up just prior to impact.

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 Gruithuisen.

Gruithuisen Latitude Longitude Diameter
B 35.6° N 38.8° W 9 km
E 37.3° N 44.3° W 8 km
F 36.3° N 37.9° W 4 km
G 36.6° N 43.9° W 6 km
H 33.3° N 38.4° W 6 km
K 35.3° N 42.7° W 6 km
M 36.9° N 43.2° W 7 km
P 37.1° N 40.5° W 11 km
R 37.1° N 45.3° W 7 km
S 37.5° N 45.6° W 7 km

References

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  • Andersson, L. E.; Whitaker, E. A. (1982). NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature. NASA RP-1097.
  • Blue, Jennifer (July 25, 2007). "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature". USGS. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
  • Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
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  • McDowell, Jonathan (July 15, 2007). "Lunar Nomenclature". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
  • Menzel, D. H.; Minnaert, M.; Levin, B.; Dollfus, A.; Bell, B. (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by the Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews. 12 (2): 136–186. Bibcode:1971SSRv...12..136M. doi:10.1007/BF00171763. S2CID 122125855.
  • Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
  • Price, Fred W. (1988). The Moon Observer's Handbook. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-33500-3.
  • Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 978-0-913135-17-4.
  • Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3.
  • Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
  • Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 978-1-85233-193-1.