Apianus (crater)
Encyclopedia
Apianus is a lunar
impact crater
that is located on the rugged south-central highlands of the Moon
. It is located to the northeast of the crater Aliacensis
, and to the northwest of Poisson
. The worn crater Krusenstern
is attached to the west-northwestern rim.
The outer wall of the crater has been worn and eroded by subsequent impacts, and a pair of small craterlets overlay the rim to the southeast and northeast. The central crater is 63 kilometers in diameter and 2,080 meters deep. The craterlet on the southeast rim, Apianus B, is a member of a cluster of co-joined craterlets that includes Apianus T and Apianus U. The interior floor of the central crater is relatively smooth and lacks a central peak, although the surface appears somewhat convex. Only a few tiny craterlets mark the surface.
A variety of other nearby craters and craterlets belong to Apianus.
The crater is from the Nectarian
period, 3.92 to 3.85 billion years ago.
Apianus is named after 16th century German
mathematician and astronomer Petrus Apianus
. The name applies as official international standard since 1935 and is registered at the International Astronomical Union
(IAU).
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
impact crater
Impact crater
In the broadest sense, the term impact crater can be applied to any depression, natural or manmade, resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with a larger body...
that is located on the rugged south-central highlands of the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. It is located to the northeast of the crater Aliacensis
Aliacensis (crater)
Aliacensis is a lunar impact crater that is located in the rugged southern highlands of the Moon. The crater Werner is located just to the north-northwest, and a narrow, rugged valley lies between the two comparably sized formations. To the southwest is Walther, and Apianus is to the northeast. The...
, and to the northwest of Poisson
Poisson (crater)
Poisson is a lunar crater that is located in the southern highlands of the Moon's near side. It lies to the east of the crater Aliacensis and northwest of Gemma Frisius...
. The worn crater Krusenstern
Krusenstern (crater)
Krusenstern is a lunar crater that lies amidst the battered terrain in the southern part of the Moon's near side. Nearly attached to the east-southeast rim is the crater Apianus. Less than one crater diameter to the southwest is the prominent Werner. Krusenstern is intruding into a large circular...
is attached to the west-northwestern rim.
The outer wall of the crater has been worn and eroded by subsequent impacts, and a pair of small craterlets overlay the rim to the southeast and northeast. The central crater is 63 kilometers in diameter and 2,080 meters deep. The craterlet on the southeast rim, Apianus B, is a member of a cluster of co-joined craterlets that includes Apianus T and Apianus U. The interior floor of the central crater is relatively smooth and lacks a central peak, although the surface appears somewhat convex. Only a few tiny craterlets mark the surface.
A variety of other nearby craters and craterlets belong to Apianus.
The crater is from the Nectarian
Nectarian
The Nectarian Period of the lunar geologic timescale runs from 3920 million years ago to 3850 million years ago. It is the period during which the Nectaris Basin and other major basins were formed by large impact events...
period, 3.92 to 3.85 billion years ago.
Apianus is named after 16th century German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
mathematician and astronomer Petrus Apianus
Petrus Apianus
Petrus Apianus , also known as Peter Apian, was a German humanist, known for his works in mathematics, astronomy and cartography.The lunar crater Apianus and minor planet 19139 Apian are named in his honour....
. The name applies as official international standard since 1935 and is registered at the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
(IAU).
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 Apianus.| Apianus | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 25.7° S | 6.6° E | 14 km |
| B | 27.4° S | 9.0° E | 10 km |
| C | 28.1° S | 10.5° E | 20 km |
| D | 26.1° S | 10.7° E | 35 km |
| E | 28.8° S | 8.2° E | 9 km |
| F | 28.1° S | 6.4° E | 6 km |
| G | 28.1° S | 7.7° E | 5 km |
| H | 28.1° S | 8.7° E | 7 km |
| J | 26.3° S | 8.6° E | 7 km |
| K | 27.4° S | 9.3° E | 7 km |
| L | 29.1° S | 10.9° E | 5 km |
| M | 24.7° S | 10.3° E | 7 km |
| N | 28.8° S | 9.9° E | 4 km |
| P | 25.2° S | 9.2° E | 40 km |
| R | 25.7° S | 8.9° E | 13 km |
| S | 25.6° S | 8.5° E | 8 km |
| T | 27.7° S | 9.5° E | 12 km |
| U | 27.9° S | 9.0° E | 16 km |
| V | 25.3° S | 10.5° E | 3 km |
| W | 25.5° S | 7.4° E | 9 km |
| X | 28.3° S | 7.1° E | 3 km |
External links
- Crater Apianus in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature of the Astrogeology Research Program of the United States Geological Survey
- Crater Apianus: Lunar Map LAC-95 of the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center of the United States Air Force in the Lunar Map Catalog of the Lunar and Planetary Institute
- Crater Apianus: Available Lunar Maps according to the Astrogeology Research Program of the United States Geological Survey
- Crater Apianus in the Digital Lunar Orbiter Photographic Atlas of the Moon of the Lunar and Planetary Institute - Image IV-095-H3
- Crater Apianus in the Digital Lunar Orbiter Photographic Atlas of the Moon of the Lunar and Planetary Institute - Image IV-096-H1
- Crater Apianus in the Digital Lunar Orbiter Photographic Atlas of the Moon of the Lunar and Planetary Institute - Image IV-096-M
- Crater Apianus in the Digital Lunar Orbiter Photographic Atlas of the Moon of the Lunar and Planetary Institute - Image IV-100-H3
- Crater Apianus in the Digital Lunar Orbiter Photographic Atlas of the Moon of the Lunar and Planetary Institute - Image IV-101-H1
