Leonid (crater)

Leonid
Map of the minor features that the rover Lunokhod-1 passed, Leonid is near the top of the photo
Coordinates 38°18′40″N 35°00′25″W / 38.311°N 35.007°W / 38.311; -35.007Coordinates: 38°18′40″N 35°00′25″W / 38.311°N 35.007°W / 38.311; -35.007
Diameter c. 50 m
Depth Unknown
Eponym Germanic originated male name
LRO image, with the Lunokhod rover in upper left

Leonid is a tiny lunar craterlet located in the northwest part of the Mare Imbrium in the northwest of the lunar near side. The craterlet is located west of Kolya and ESE of Albert, further south are the larger Borya and the slightly smaller Valera. The southern part is almost circular but the northern part are nearly rectangular, its diameter measures about 60 by 40 meters. Major features include Promontorium Heraclides, located 30 km north, the closest to where Lunokhod 1 visited, and C. Herschel crater located more than 150 km south-southeast.

Description

The crater is named after the Russian male name of Greek origin, Leonidas, one of the 12 craterlet names in the area where Lunokhod 1 passed that were approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) on June 14, 2012.[1]

After making a turn ESE after going west northeast of the craterlet now Albert, the Soviet lander Luna 17 arrived close on August 3, 1971, and on August 16, it went closer by 215 metres and was very close by 88 metres on September 8 when its mission ended at 13:05 UT when controllers finished the last communications session with the lander. Attempts to re-establish contact were finally discontinued and the operations of Lunokhod 1 officially ceased on October 4, 1971, the anniversary of Sputnik 1. The marking was the lander's final position

The location and the lander's tracks were founded in a Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter image on March 17, 2010 by Albert Abdrakhimov and continued for days and months.[2][3]

Location

Leonid is one of twelve named craters near the landing site, located in the northwest of Mare Imbrium

References

  1. ↑ "Albert". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved November 7, 2017 – via usgs.gov.
  2. ↑ Lakdawalla, Emily (March 17, 2010). "And now for Luna 17 and Lunokhod 1". Planetary Report.
  3. ↑ "LROC Observation M114185541R". Arizona State University.
  • Leonid at The Moon Wiki
  • "Lunokhod-1 traverse map (Landing site Luna 17)" (PDF). Moscow State University of Geodesy and cartography (MIIGAiK), German Aerospace Center (DLR). 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  • Wood, Chuck (June 16, 2012). "Overdue Names". Lunar Photo of the Day. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
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