Helicon (crater)
Lunar Orbiter 4 image | |
Coordinates | 40°24′N 23°06′W / 40.4°N 23.1°WCoordinates: 40°24′N 23°06′W / 40.4°N 23.1°W |
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Diameter | 25 km |
Depth | 0.5 km |
Colongitude | 23° at sunrise |
Eponym | Helicon |
Helicon is a small lunar impact crater that is located on the north part of the Mare Imbrium. The crater is named after Mount Helicon, a mountain located nearly northwest of Athens, Greece. To the northwest is the prominent Sinus Iridum, a mountain-ringed bay on the mare. Just nearly two crater diameter to the east (about 50 km) is the slightly smaller crater Le Verrier. No other prominent craters are nearby other than Carlini further south and northeast are the recently named tiny craters of Guang Han Gong, Tai Wei, Tai Shi and Zi Wei.
Helicon is a nearly circular formation with inner walls that curve down to a relatively flat floor. There is a tiny craterlet located at the midpoint of the interior, and a small craterlet along the southwestern rim.
Satellite craters
According to convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Helicon.
Helicon | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
---|---|---|---|
B | 38.0° N | 21.3° W | 6 km |
C | 40.1° N | 26.2° W | 1 km |
E | 40.5° N | 24.1° W | 3 km |
G | 41.7° N | 24.9° W | 2 km |
External links
- Wood, Chuck (2006-08-20). "Out the Porthole". Lunar Photo of the Day. Retrieved 2016-09-18. , excellent earth-based image of Sinus Iridum and vicinity, including Helicon and Le Verrier
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Helicon (crater). |
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