Capella (crater)
 Capella (right) and Isidorus (center) from Apollo 16. NASA photo. |
|
| Coordinates | 7°36′S 34°54′E / 7.6°S 34.9°ECoordinates: 7°36′S 34°54′E / 7.6°S 34.9°E |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 49 km |
| Depth | Unknown |
| Colongitude | 325° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Martianus Capella |
Capella is a lunar crater 49 km (30 mi) in diameter that lies to the north of the Mare Nectaris, in a rugged region with many small impact craters. It intrudes slightly into the eastern rim of the crater Isidorus, a feature only slightly smaller in diameter.
The wall of Capella is low but relatively thick and irregular, with a large promontory intruding on the south-eastern side. The crater is crossed by a deep rift, the Vallis Capella, which passes directly through Capella from the north rim through the southeast side of the wall, and extends out both sides for a combined distance of 110 kilometers. This feature was formed by a chain of craters. In the middle of the crater is a wide, round peak with a craterlet at the top. The western side of the crater is dotted with impact debris, forming clusters of small hills.
The crater was named for Marcianus Capella, a writer of Late Antiquity.
[edit] Satellite craters
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater mid-point that is closest to Capella.
| Capella | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 7.6° S | 37.2° E | 13 km |
| B | 9.4° S | 36.8° E | 10 km |
| C | 5.7° S | 36.3° E | 11 km |
| D | 6.7° S | 37.6° E | 8 km |
| E | 7.5° S | 37.7° E | 16 km |
| F | 9.2° S | 35.4° E | 14 km |
| G | 6.8° S | 36.9° E | 12 km |
| H | 8.1° S | 37.4° E | 9 km |
| J | 9.4° S | 36.0° E | 9 km |
| M | 4.4° S | 37.0° E | 12 km |
| R | 6.0° S | 35.2° E | 7 km |
| T | 6.9° S | 34.2° E | 6 km |
[edit] References
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