Censorinus (crater)
Encyclopedia
Censorinus is a tiny lunar
impact crater
located on a rise to the southeast of the Mare Tranquillitatis
. To the northeast is the crater Maskelyne
.
Censorinus is distinguished by an area of high-albedo
material surrounding the rim. This makes the feature highly prominent when the Sun is at a high angle, and it is one of the brightest objects on the visible Moon
. Bright streaks radiate away radially from the crater, and contrast with the darker lunar mare
.
This formation has a sharp-edged, raised rim and a symmetrical, cup-shaped interior. Close-up photographs of this crater by the Lunar Orbiter probes show many large blocks lying along the sloping outer rampart. The surface near the crater is hummocky from the deposited ejecta. The crater is otherwise undistinguished.
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...
located on a rise to the southeast of the Mare Tranquillitatis
Mare Tranquillitatis
Mare Tranquillitatis is a lunar mare that sits within the Tranquillitatis basin on the Moon. The mare material within the basin consists of basalt formed in the intermediate to young age group of the Upper Imbrian epoch. The surrounding mountains are thought to be of the Lower Imbrian epoch, but...
. To the northeast is the crater Maskelyne
Maskelyne (crater)
Maskelyne is a solitary lunar crater that lies in the southeast part of the Mare Tranquillitatis. The outer rim has a somewhat polygonal shape, although it is generally circular...
.
Censorinus is distinguished by an area of high-albedo
Albedo
Albedo , or reflection coefficient, is the diffuse reflectivity or reflecting power of a surface. It is defined as the ratio of reflected radiation from the surface to incident radiation upon it...
material surrounding the rim. This makes the feature highly prominent when the Sun is at a high angle, and it is one of the brightest objects on the visible 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...
. Bright streaks radiate away radially from the crater, and contrast with the darker lunar 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...
.
This formation has a sharp-edged, raised rim and a symmetrical, cup-shaped interior. Close-up photographs of this crater by the Lunar Orbiter probes show many large blocks lying along the sloping outer rampart. The surface near the crater is hummocky from the deposited ejecta. The crater is otherwise undistinguished.
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 Censorinus.| Censorinus | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 0.4° S | 33.0° E | 7 km |
| B | 2.0° S | 31.4° E | 8 km |
| C | 3.0° S | 34.1° E | 28 km |
| D | 1.9° S | 35.8° E | 10 km |
| E | 3.6° S | 34.8° E | 12 km |
| H | 1.8° S | 33.7° E | 10 km |
| J | 1.0° S | 31.3° E | 5 km |
| K | 1.0° S | 28.8° E | 4 km |
| L | 2.5° S | 31.2° E | 4 km |
| N | 1.9° S | 36.5° E | 36 km |
| S | 3.8° S | 36.1° E | 17 km |
| T | 3.2° S | 31.1° E | 5 km |
| U | 1.5° S | 34.4° E | 3 km |
| V | 0.6° S | 35.4° E | 4 km |
| W | 1.0° S | 37.5° E | 9 km |
| X | 0.5° S | 37.2° E | 18 km |
| Z | 3.7° S | 36.8° E | 12 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...
.
- Censorinus F — See Leakey (crater)Leakey (crater)Leakey is a small, undistinguished lunar impact crater that is located in an area of rough terrain in the eastern part of the Moon. The immediate area is not notable for crater features, although some distance to the southwest is the crater pair of Capella and Isidorus...
.