Poisson is a lunar impact crater that is located in the southern highlands of the Moon's near side. It was named after French mathematician Siméon Denis Poisson.[1] It lies to the east of the crater Aliacensis and northwest of Gemma Frisius. To the northwest of Poisson is Apianus.

Poisson
Coordinates30°24′S 10°36′E / 30.4°S 10.6°E / -30.4; 10.6
Diameter42 km
Depth2.0 km
Colongitude350° at sunrise
EponymSiméon Denis Poisson

This heavily eroded crater shares a common floor with the satellite crater Poisson T to the west-southwest, and the two craters have more or less merged into a single formation with a narrower neck in between. The rim of Poisson is heavily eroded, and is overlain by several craters. Poisson U is intruding into the southern rim at the junction of Poisson and Poisson T. A low-walled formation is joined to the northern rim at the opposite side of the neck from Poisson U.

The interior floor of Poisson and Poisson T has been resurfaced by basaltic lava, leaving a level surface within the inner walls. A pair of old, worn craters lies along the inner wall in the southeast part of the crater.

Satellite craters

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Poisson crater and its satellite craters taken from Earth in 2012 at the University of Hertfordshire's Bayfordbury Observatory with the telescopes Meade LX200 14" and Lumenera Skynyx 2-1

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

Poisson Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 29.6° S 9.1° E 17 km
B 30.8° S 10.9° E 11 km
C 33.1° S 8.6° E 26 km
D 31.4° S 7.7° E 12 km
E 34.2° S 8.6° E 14 km
F 33.7° S 8.0° E 14 km
G 31.7° S 7.4° E 16 km
H 33.0° S 7.4° E 19 km
J 35.0° S 8.3° E 27 km
K 32.7° S 9.6° E 13 km
L 32.7° S 8.2° E 16 km
M 33.9° S 7.6° E 7 km
N 30.7° S 8.4° E 4 km
O 35.0° S 9.1° E 4 km
P 31.9° S 8.9° E 7 km
Q 32.6° S 10.2° E 28 km
R 30.0° S 8.4° E 5 km
S 29.9° S 11.4° E 4 km
T 31.1° S 9.2° E 25 km
U 31.6° S 10.3° E 25 km
V 32.0° S 10.6° E 16 km
W 29.6° S 11.9° E 3 km
X 29.0° S 12.3° E 5 km
Z 29.6° S 10.5° E 5 km

References

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  1. ^ "Poisson (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.