Hyginus (crater)

Hyginus
Coordinates 7°48′N 6°18′E / 7.8°N 6.3°E / 7.8; 6.3Coordinates: 7°48′N 6°18′E / 7.8°N 6.3°E / 7.8; 6.3
Diameter 11 km
Depth 0.8 km
Colongitude 354° at sunrise
Eponym C. Julius Hyginus
LRO image of Hyginus (lower right) and part of Rima Hyginus
Oblique view from Apollo 10
Oblique view from Apollo 17

Hyginus is a small lunar caldera located at the east end of the Sinus Medii. Its rim is split by a long, linear rille Rima Hyginus that branches to the northwest and to the east-southeast for a total length of 220 kilometers. The crater is deeper than the rille, and lies at the bend where they intersect. Together the crater Hyginus and Rima Hyginus form a distinctive and prominent feature in an otherwise flat surface. Smaller craterlets can also be discerned along the length of this rille, possibly caused by a collapse of an underlying structure.

Hyginus is one of the few craters on the Moon that was not created as a result of an impact, and is instead believed to be volcanic in origin. It lacks the raised outer rim that is typical with impact craters.

Hyginus was also considered a possible landing site during the Apollo Program, because it was thought to possibly be a site of active volcanism.[1]

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 Hyginus.

Hyginus Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 6.3° N 5.7° E 8 km
B 7.6° N 5.1° E 6 km
C 7.7° N 8.3° E 5 km
D 11.4° N 4.3° E 5 km
E 8.7° N 8.5° E 4 km
F 8.0° N 8.6° E 4 km
G 11.0° N 6.0° E 4 km
H 6.0° N 7.0° E 4 km
N 10.5° N 7.4° E 11 km
S 6.4° N 8.0° E 29 km
W 9.7° N 7.7° E 22 km
Z 8.0° N 9.5° E 28 km

References

  1. ↑ To a Rocky Moon: A Geologist's History of Lunar Exploration. Don E. Wilhelms, University of Arizona Press (1993), Chapter 10. ISBN 978-0816510658

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