Moretus (crater)

Coordinates: 70°36′S 5°30′W / 70.6°S 5.5°W / -70.6; -5.5
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Moretus
LRO image
Coordinates70°36′S 5°30′W / 70.6°S 5.5°W / -70.6; -5.5
Diameter114 km
Depth5.0 km
Colongitude7° at sunrise
EponymTheodorus Moretus
Lunar Orbiter 4 image.

Moretus is a lunar impact crater located in the heavily cratered highland region near the south pole of the Moon.

South of Moretus, the crater Short is located, while to the north is Cysatus. To the northwest lies Gruemberger, and Curtius is located to the northeast. Due to the location near the lunar limb, the crater appears oblong because of foreshortening. The crater is named after the 17th-century Flemish mathematician and geometer Theodorus Moretus.

The rim of the crater has a wide, terraced inner wall, and a complex outer rampart. The floor has been partly resurfaced and is relatively flat. In the middle is a central mountain formation that rises about 2.1 kilometers above the surrounding floor.

Satellite craters[edit]

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

Moretus Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 70.4° S 13.8° W 32 km
C 72.6° S 11.2° W 17 km

References[edit]

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  • McDowell, Jonathan (July 15, 2007). "Lunar Nomenclature". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
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  • 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.