Finsen (crater)

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Finsen
Finsen LROC.jpg
LRO image
Coordinates42°00′S 177°54′W / 42.0°S 177.9°W / -42.0; -177.9Coordinates: 42°00′S 177°54′W / 42.0°S 177.9°W / -42.0; -177.9
Diameter72 km
DepthUnknown
Colongitude179° at sunrise
EponymNiels R. Finsen
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 5 image, facing west

Finsen is a lunar impact crater that is located in the southern hemisphere, on the Moon's far side. It is attached to the southeastern exterior of the walled plain Leibnitz, and the ejecta from Finsen covers the southeastern part of Leibnitz's interior floor. To the southwest of Finsen is another walled plain, Von Kármán, partly overlain by Leibnitz.

This is a relatively young impact crater with well-defined features that have not been significantly eroded by subsequent impacts. The rim is circular but somewhat uneven along the edge, with outward protrusions along all sides except to the north and northwest. The inner wall has slumped in places, producing a sharp rim edge in the southern half. There are also a number of short terraces along the inner wall.

The inner wall is wider to the north, and so the relatively level interior floor is offset slightly to the south. At the midpoint of the crater is a central peak formation, occupying an area of roughly 15 km. This central peak has a higher albedo than the surrounding floor or rim, giving a lightened appearance. There are no significant impacts along the crater rim or within the interior.

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 Finsen.

Finsen Latitude Longitude Diameter
C 40.6° S 175.8° W 26 km
G 43.0° S 175.3° W 33 km

References[]

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  • McDowell, Jonathan (July 15, 2007). "Lunar Nomenclature". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
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  • Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
  • Price, Fred W. (1988). The Moon Observer's Handbook. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-33500-3.
  • Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 978-0-913135-17-4.
  • Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3.
  • Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
  • Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 978-1-85233-193-1.
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