Cleomedes is a prominent lunar impact crater located in the northeast part of the visible Moon, to the north of Mare Crisium. It was named after Greek astronomer Cleomedes.[1] It is surrounded by rough ground with multiple crater impacts. The irregular crater Tralles intrudes into the northwest rim. To the east is Delmotte. North of Cleomedes is a triple-crater formation with Burckhardt occupying the center.

Cleomedes
LRO mosaic
Coordinates27°42′N 55°30′E / 27.7°N 55.5°E / 27.7; 55.5
Diameter126 km
Depth2.7 km
Colongitude304° at sunrise
EponymCleomedes
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 4 image

The outer wall of Cleomedes is heavily worn and eroded, especially along the southern part of the wall. Cleomedes C lies across the south-southwest rim. The crater floor is nearly flat, with a small central peak to the north of the midpoint, forming a linear ridge toward the north-northeast. There are several notable craterlets on the floor, including a pair of overlapping craters just inside the northwest rim.

A rille named Rima Cleomedes crosses the northern floor, running southeast from the northwest rim. This rille branches in a fork after crossing the crater mid-line. Smaller clefts lie in the southeast part of the floor.

Cleomedes is one of the largest craters of Nectarian age.[2]

Satellite craters

edit

By convention, these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Cleomedes.

Cleomedes Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 28.9° N 55.0° E 12 km
B 27.2° N 55.9° E 11 km
C 25.7° N 54.9° E 14 km
D 29.3° N 61.9° E 25 km
E 28.6° N 54.4° E 21 km
F 22.6° N 56.9° E 12 km
G 24.0° N 57.3° E 20 km
H 22.4° N 57.6° E 6 km
J 26.9° N 56.8° E 10 km
L 23.8° N 54.4° E 7 km
M 24.2° N 51.6° E 6 km
N 24.8° N 52.5° E 6 km
P 24.8° N 56.4° E 9 km
Q 24.9° N 56.9° E 4 km
R 29.5° N 60.2° E 15 km
S 29.5° N 59.0° E 8 km
T 25.8° N 57.7° E 11 km

References

edit
  1. ^ "Cleomedes (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. ^ The geologic history of the Moon. USGS Professional Paper 1348. By Don E. Wilhelms, John F. McCauley, and Newell J. Trask. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington: 1987. Table 9-4.
edit