Littrow (crater)
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (January 2016) |
 Lunar Orbiter 4 image | |
| Coordinates | 21°30′N 31°24′E / 21.5°N 31.4°E |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 29 km |
| Depth | 1.2 km |
| Colongitude | 329° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Joseph Johann Littrow |
Littrow is a lunar impact crater that is located in the northeastern part of the Moon's near side, on the east edge of Mare Serenitatis. Its diameter is 29 km. The crater is named after Bohemian astronomer Joseph Johann Littrow.[1] Some distance to the northeast is the prominent crater Römer, while to the south is Vitruvius.
The rim of Littrow is heavily worn and eroded, especially along the southern wall. The interior has been flooded with lava in the past, leaving a relatively smooth, featureless surface with no central rise.
Rimae Littrow
Just to the northwest of Littrow is a system of rilles designated the Rimae Littrow. These are located at selenographic coordinates 22.1° N, 29.9° E, and have a maximum diameter of 115 km. To the south-southwest is the Taurus–Littrow valley that is notable for being the landing site of the Apollo 17 mission. Two tiny craters to the west of this site have been assigned names by the IAU. These are listed below.
| Crater | Longitude | Latitude | Diameter | Name source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ching-Te | 20.0° N | 30.0° W | 4 km | Chinese masculine |
| Stella | 19.9° N | 29.8° W | 1 km | Latin feminine |
Satellite craters
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Littrow.
| Littrow | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 22.2° N | 32.2° E | 23 km |
| D | 23.7° N | 32.8° E | 8 km |
| F | 22.0° N | 34.1° E | 12 km |
| P | 23.2° N | 32.8° E | 36 km |
The following craters have been renamed by the IAU.
- Littrow B — See Clerke (crater).
References
- ^ "Littrow (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
- Andersson, L. E.; Whitaker, E. A. (1982). NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature. NASA RP-1097.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Cocks, Elijah E.; Cocks, Josiah C. (1995). Who's Who on the Moon: A Biographical Dictionary of Lunar Nomenclature. Tudor Publishers. ISBN 978-0-936389-27-1.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - McDowell, Jonathan (July 15, 2007). "Lunar Nomenclature". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
{{cite web}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - 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.
{{cite journal}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Price, Fred W. (1988). The Moon Observer's Handbook. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-33500-3.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 978-0-913135-17-4.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 978-1-85233-193-1.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)
External links
All these are on Rimae Littrow;
- Wood, Chuck (September 20, 2004). "Young Fractures". Lunar Photo of the Day.
- Wood, Chuck (September 21, 2004). "Littrow Rilles - A Wider View". Lunar Photo of the Day.