Middle Crescent (crater)
 LRO Narrow Angle Camera image | |
| Coordinates | 3°00′S 23°26′W / 3.00°S 23.44°W |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 360 m[1] |
| Eponym | Astronaut-named feature |
Middle Crescent crater is a small crater in Mare Cognitum on the Moon. The name of the crater was formally adopted by the IAU in 1973.[1]
The Apollo 12 astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean landed the Lunar Module (LM) Intrepid east of Middle Crescent crater on November 24, 1969. To the southeast of Middle Crescent is Head crater. Middle Crescent is the largest crater visited by the Apollo 12 astronauts.
Samples
Lunar sample 12004, an olivine basalt, was collected at the rim of Middle Crescent.[2] Samples 12014, 12015, and 12016 were probably collected there, but the provenance is less certain. 12014 is also an olivine basalt.[3] 12015 is an olivine vitrophyre.[4] 12016 is an ilmenite basalt.[5]
-
Sample 12004 is at center
.jpg)
External Links
- Lunar Orbiter 3 image 154 H2, used for planning the mission (landing site is left of center).
- Lunar Orbiter 1 sequence of images 157, 158, and 159, showing the Apollo 12 landing site and vicinity
References
- ^ a b Middle Crescent, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN)
- ^ 12004, Lunar Samples, Lunar and Planetary Institute
- ^ 12014, Lunar Samples, Lunar and Planetary Institute
- ^ 12015, Lunar Samples, Lunar and Planetary Institute
- ^ 12016, Lunar Samples, Lunar and Planetary Institute