Sosigenes is a lunar impact crater on the west edge of Mare Tranquillitatis. Its diameter is 17 km. It was named after ancient Greek astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria.[1] It lies to the east of the large walled plain Julius Caesar. The crater rim has a high albedo, making it relatively bright. It has a small central rise at the midpoint of the floor.

The crater (to the top right) area in a Selenochromatic format Image (Si)
Sosigenes
LRO image
Coordinates8°42′N 17°36′E / 8.7°N 17.6°E / 8.7; 17.6
Diameter17 km
Depth1.7 km
Colongitude342° at sunrise
EponymSosigenes of Alexandria

To the east on the mare is a formation of parallel rilles designated the Rimae Sosigenes. These follow a course to the north, and have a length of about 150 kilometers. The small, bowl-shaped crater Sosignes A lies across one of these rilles.

Satellite craters

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

 
Sosigenes 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
 
Sosigenes A
 
Irregular mare patch crossing Rima Sosigenes
 
Rimae Sosigenes, the IMP above, and Sosigenes A crater
Sosigenes Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 7.8° N 18.5° E 12 km
B 8.3° N 17.2° E 4 km
C 7.2° N 18.9° E 3 km

References

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