Cichus (crater)
Encyclopedia
Cichus is a lunar
impact crater
that lies in the southwestern part of the Moon
, at the eastern edge of Palus Epidemiarum
. Just to the northeast and nearly contacting the rim is the lava
-flooded crater remnant Weiss
.
The rim of this crater is only slightly worn, although the crater Cichus C lies across the southwestern rim. Sections of the inner wall are terraced, and the western side is somewhat wider than in the east. Several small ridges lie across the interior floor. A ray
from the bright crater Tycho
to the southeast passes tangentially just to the northeast of the rim.
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 lies in the southwestern part 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...
, at the eastern edge of Palus Epidemiarum
Palus Epidemiarum
Palus Epidemiarum is a small lunar mare in the southwestern part of the Moon's near side. It lies to the southwest of Mare Nubium, and southeast of Mare Humorum...
. Just to the northeast and nearly contacting the rim is the lava
Lava
Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
-flooded crater remnant Weiss
Weiss (crater)
Weiss is a lunar crater along the southern edge of the Mare Nubium. Nearly attached to the southwest rim is the crater Cichus, and Pitatus lies just over one crater diameter to the east-northeast. To the east-southeast lies the eroded Wurzelbauer....
.
The rim of this crater is only slightly worn, although the crater Cichus C lies across the southwestern rim. Sections of the inner wall are terraced, and the western side is somewhat wider than in the east. Several small ridges lie across the interior floor. A ray
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...
from the bright crater Tycho
Tycho (crater)
Tycho is a prominent lunar impact crater located in the southern lunar highlands, named after the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe . To the south is the crater Street; to the east is Pictet, and to the north-northeast is Sasserides. The surface around Tycho is replete with craters of various sizes,...
to the southeast passes tangentially just to the northeast of the rim.
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 Cichus.| Cichus | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 34.8° S | 21.4° W | 21 km |
| B | 33.2° S | 19.3° W | 14 km |
| C | 33.5° S | 21.8° W | 11 km |
| F | 35.7° S | 22.4° W | 8 km |
| G | 35.5° S | 23.5° W | 23 km |
| H | 32.8° S | 22.4° W | 7 km |
| J | 32.0° S | 21.3° W | 13 km |
| K | 36.6° S | 19.9° W | 6 km |
| N | 30.5° S | 21.7° W | 8 km |