Nikolya (crater)

Nikolya
Map of the minor features that the rover Lunokhod-1 passed, Nikolya is to the south of the photo
Coordinates 38°12′07″N 34°59′54″W / 38.20205°N 34.9984°W / 38.20205; -34.9984Coordinates: 38°12′07″N 34°59′54″W / 38.20205°N 34.9984°W / 38.20205; -34.9984
Diameter c. 100 m
Depth Unknown
Eponym Russian male name

Nikolya 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 SSE of Slava and the tiny southeastern rim is next Vasya. Major features include Promontorium Heraclides, located 30 km north, and C. Herschel crater located about 150 km south-southeast, the closest to where Lunokhod 1 visited.

Description

The crater is named after the dimunitive form of the Russian male name "Nikolai" (Nicholas) of Greek origin, 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]

The Soviet lander Luna 17 crossed at the northeast rim of the crater around mid-December 1970 as the lander passed northward after visiting the craterlet now Vasaya. It was one of the two craterlets visited that month, the lander later headed northeast of the craterlet now known as Vasya. The location and the lander's tracks were founded in a Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter image on March 17, 2010 by Albert Abdrakhimov.[2][3]

Location

See also

  • Kolya (crater) - another crater named after the dimunitive form of Nikolai

References

  1. ↑ "Vasya". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved October 11, 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.
  • Nikolya 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 September 27, 2017.
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