Von Kármán (lunar crater)
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| Crater characteristics | |
| Coordinates | 44.8° S, 175.9° E |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 180 km |
| Depth | Unknown |
| Colongitude | 188° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Theodore von Kármán |
Von Kármán is a lunar crater that is located in the southern hemisphere on the far side of the Moon. The northern third of this formation is overlaid by the rim and outer rampart of the Leibnitz walled-basin, forming a deep indeptation in the formation. The remainder of the outer wall is roughly circular in shape, although it is irregular and heavily worn by subsequent impacts.
The interior of Von Kármán has been subjected to flooding by lava flows after the original crater formed, leaving the southern portion of the floor nearly flat. This surface has a lower albedo than the surrounding terrain, and is nearly as dark as the interior of the Leibnitz basin. There is a central peak at the location where the midpoint of the original Von Kármán crater was formed, which joins with the rougher surface in the northern part of the crater.
In addition to Leibnitz to the north, the Oresme crater is located to the west-northwest, and Finsen crater lies to the northeast on the edge of the Leibnitz rim. Nearly attached to the southeast rim is the unusual figure-8 'Van Kármán L' formation. Directly to the east of this is the Alder crater.
[edit] Satellite craters
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater mid-point that is closest to Von Kármán crater.
| Von Kármán | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| L | 47.7° S | 177.9° E | 29 km |
| M | 47.2° S | 176.2° E | 225 km |
| R | 45.8° S | 170.8° E | 28 km |
[edit] References
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- Blue, Jennifer (July 25, 2007). Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS. Retrieved on 2007-08-05.
- Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-81528-2.
- Cocks, Elijah E.; Cocks, Josiah C. (1995). Who's Who on the Moon: A Biographical Dictionary of Lunar Nomenclature. Tudor Publishers. ISBN 0-936389-27-3.
- McDowell, Jonathan (July 15, 2007). Lunar Nomenclature. Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
- Menzel, D. H.; Minnaert, M.; Levin, B.; Dollfus, A.; Bell, B. (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by The Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews 12: 136.
- Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co.. ISBN 0-304-35469-4.
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- Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-62248-4.
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