.gif)
Archimedes (crater)
Encyclopedia
Archimedes is a large lunar
impact crater
on the eastern edges of the Mare Imbrium
. To the south of the crater extends the Montes Archimedes
mountainous region. On the southeastern rim is the Palus Putredinis
flooded plain, containing a system of rille
s named the Rimae Archimedes that extend over 150 kilometers. North-northwest of Archimedes stand the Montes Spitzbergen
, a string of peaks in the Mare Imbrium
.
East of Archimedes is the crater Autolycus
, and the stretch of lunar surface between these two formations was the crash-landing site of Luna 2
. This was the first craft to reach the surface of the Moon, landing September 13, 1959.
Northeast of Archimedes is the prominent crater Aristillus
. The lava plain between Archimedes, Aristillus, and Autolycus forms the Sinus Lunicus
bay of Mare Imbrium
. A wrinkle ridge leads away from Archimedes toward the north-northwest, crossing this mare
.
The diameter of Archimedes is the largest of any crater on the Mare Imbrium
. The rim has a significant outer rampart brightened with ejecta and the upper portion of a terraced inner wall, but lacks the ray system
associated with younger craters. A triangular promontory extends 30 kilometers from the southeast of the rim.
The interior of the crater lacks a central peak, and is flooded with lava. It is devoid of significant raised features, although there are a few tiny meteor craters near the rim. Scattered wisps of bright ray material lie across the floor, most likely deposited by the impact that created Autolycus.
The following craters have been renamed by the 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...
on the eastern edges of the Mare Imbrium
Mare Imbrium
Mare Imbrium, Latin for "Sea of Showers" or "Sea of Rains", is a vast lunar mare filling a basin on Earth's Moon and one of the larger craters in the Solar System. Mare Imbrium was created when lava flooded the giant crater formed when a very large object hit the Moon long ago...
. To the south of the crater extends the Montes Archimedes
Montes Archimedes
Montes Archimedes is a mountain range on the Moon. It is named after the crater Archimedes that lies to the north, which in turn has an eponym of the Greek mathematician Archimedes....
mountainous region. On the southeastern rim is the Palus Putredinis
Palus Putredinis
Palus Putredinus is an area of the lunar surface that stretches from the crater Archimedes southeast toward the rugged Montes Apenninus range located on the southeastern edge of Mare Imbrium. This region is a nearly level, lava-flooded plain bounded by the crater Autolycus to the north and the...
flooded plain, containing a system of rille
Rille
Rille is typically used to describe any of the long, narrow depressions in the lunar surface that resemble channels. Typically a rille can be up to several kilometers wide and hundreds of kilometers in length...
s named the Rimae Archimedes that extend over 150 kilometers. North-northwest of Archimedes stand the Montes Spitzbergen
Montes Spitzbergen
Montes Spitzbergen is a solitary mountain chain in the eastern Mare Imbrium of the Moon. They are located about a crater diameter to the north of the prominent flooded crater Archimedes....
, a string of peaks in the Mare Imbrium
Mare Imbrium
Mare Imbrium, Latin for "Sea of Showers" or "Sea of Rains", is a vast lunar mare filling a basin on Earth's Moon and one of the larger craters in the Solar System. Mare Imbrium was created when lava flooded the giant crater formed when a very large object hit the Moon long ago...
.
East of Archimedes is the crater Autolycus
Autolycus (crater)
Autolycus is a lunar impact crater that is located in the southeast part of Mare Imbrium. West of the formation is Archimedes, a formation more than double the size of Autolycus...
, and the stretch of lunar surface between these two formations was the crash-landing site of Luna 2
Luna 2
Luna 2 was the second of the Soviet Union's Luna programme spacecraft launched to the Moon. It was the first spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon...
. This was the first craft to reach the surface of the Moon, landing September 13, 1959.
Northeast of Archimedes is the prominent crater Aristillus
Aristillus (crater)
Aristillus is a prominent lunar impact crater that lies in the eastern Mare Imbrium. Directly to the south is the smaller crater Autolycus, while to the southwest is the large Archimedes. The area of mare to the southwest is named the Sinus Lunicus...
. The lava plain between Archimedes, Aristillus, and Autolycus forms the Sinus Lunicus
Sinus Lunicus
Sinus Lunicus is an area of lunar mare along the southeast edge of the Mare Imbrium. It is formed by the area enclosed by the prominent craters Archimedes to the southwest, Autolycus to the southeast, and Aristillus to the northeast...
bay of Mare Imbrium
Mare Imbrium
Mare Imbrium, Latin for "Sea of Showers" or "Sea of Rains", is a vast lunar mare filling a basin on Earth's Moon and one of the larger craters in the Solar System. Mare Imbrium was created when lava flooded the giant crater formed when a very large object hit the Moon long ago...
. A wrinkle ridge leads away from Archimedes toward the north-northwest, crossing this mare
Lunar mare
The lunar maria are large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth's Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They were dubbed maria, Latin for "seas", by early astronomers who mistook them for actual seas. They are less reflective than the "highlands" as a result of their iron-rich compositions, and...
.
The diameter of Archimedes is the largest of any crater on the Mare Imbrium
Mare Imbrium
Mare Imbrium, Latin for "Sea of Showers" or "Sea of Rains", is a vast lunar mare filling a basin on Earth's Moon and one of the larger craters in the Solar System. Mare Imbrium was created when lava flooded the giant crater formed when a very large object hit the Moon long ago...
. The rim has a significant outer rampart brightened with ejecta and the upper portion of a terraced inner wall, but lacks the ray system
Ray system
A ray system comprises radial streaks of fine ejecta thrown out during the formation of an impact crater, looking a bit like many thin spokes coming from the hub of a wheel. The rays can extend for lengths up to several times the diameter of their originating crater, and are often accompanied by...
associated with younger craters. A triangular promontory extends 30 kilometers from the southeast of the rim.
The interior of the crater lacks a central peak, and is flooded with lava. It is devoid of significant raised features, although there are a few tiny meteor craters near the rim. Scattered wisps of bright ray material lie across the floor, most likely deposited by the impact that created Autolycus.
Illustrations
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 Archimedes.| Archimedes | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 31.6° N | 1.5° W | 8 km |
| D | 32.2° N | 2.6° W | 5 km |
| E | 25.0° N | 7.2° W | 3 km |
| G | 29.1° N | 8.2° W | 3 km |
| H | 23.9° N | 7.0° W | 4 km |
| L | 25.0° N | 2.6° W | 4 km |
| M | 26.1° N | 3.2° W | 3 km |
| N | 24.1° N | 3.9° W | 3 km |
| P | 25.9° N | 2.5° W | 3 km |
| Q | 28.5° N | 2.4° W | 3 km |
| R | 26.0° N | 6.6° W | 4 km |
| S | 29.5° N | 2.7° W | 3 km |
| T | 30.3° N | 5.0° W | 3 km |
| U | 32.8° N | 1.9° W | 3 km |
| V | 32.9° N | 4.0° W | 3 km |
| W | 23.8° N | 6.2° W | 4 km |
| X | 31.0° N | 8.0° W | 2 km |
| Y | 29.9° N | 9.5° W | 2 km |
| Z | 26.8° N | 1.4° W | 2 km |
The following craters have been renamed by the IAU
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...
.
- Archimedes A - See Bancroft (crater)Bancroft (crater)Bancroft is a small, bowl-shaped impact crater located to the southwest of Archimedes on the Mare Imbrium. A wide, shallow depression runs from the rim of Bancroft southeast to the Montes Archimedes. There are some clefts at the edge of the mare to the west and southwest of the crater.Bancroft was...
. - Archimedes F - See MacMillan (crater)MacMillan (crater)MacMillan is a bowl-shaped lunar impact crater on the eastern fringes of the Mare Imbrium. It is located just to the southwest of a lone rise, near the southwestern edge of the Montes Archimedes. This is a cup-shaped depression in the surface with an interior albedo that matches the nearby lunar mare...
. - Archimedes K - See Spurr (crater)Spurr (crater)Spurr is the lava-flooded remains of a lunar impact crater. It is located in the midst of the Palus Putredinis plain, to the southeast of the crater Archimedes...
.