Thomson (crater)

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Thomson
Mare Ingenii Clementine.jpg
Mare Ingenii, dominated by the crater Thomson
Coordinates32°42′S 166°12′E / 32.7°S 166.2°E / -32.7; 166.2Coordinates: 32°42′S 166°12′E / 32.7°S 166.2°E / -32.7; 166.2
Diameter117 km
DepthUnknown
Colongitude195° at sunrise
EponymJ. J. Thomson
Oblique view of Thomson from Apollo 15

Thomson is a lunar impact crater that is located within the Mare Ingenii on the far side of the Moon. Just to the northeast is the unusual merged crater formation of Van de Graaff. On the northwest rim of the mare is O'Day, and to the south-southwest is Obruchev on the southern shore of Mare Ingenii.

In the past the crater was flooded by lava, leaving only the outer rim intact. There are gaps in the eastern and western rims, leaving two "half-moon" mountainous formations facing each other across the relatively flat floor. There is a similar lava-flooded crater remnant attached to the southern rim of Thomson. The floor of Thomson has a number of secondary impacts that form short, linear streaks across the surface.

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 Thomson.

Thomson Latitude Longitude Diameter
J 35.9° S 169.6° E 44 km
M 35.7° S 166.0° E 119 km
V 30.7° S 162.2° E 13 km
W 30.2° S 163.3° E 17 km

References[]

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  • 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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