Clausius (crater)
Encyclopedia
Clausius is a lunar
crater
that is located in the southwest part of the Moon
, in the small lunar mare
designated Lacus Excellentiae
. It is completely enclosed by mare material, although the tiny satellite crater Clausius A lies just to the north. The rim of Clausius is low and sharp, with a slightly oval shape that is longer in the north-south direction. The interior floor has been flooded by basalt
ic lava
, and appears level and featureless with a darker surface that matches the mare surface that surrounds the crater exterior.
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...
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 in the southwest 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...
, in the small 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...
designated Lacus Excellentiae
Lacus Excellentiae
Lacus Excellentiae is a relatively small, irregular lunar mare in the southern latitudes of the Moon, amidst the rugged terrain to the south of the larger Mare Humorum. The most prominent feature within the diameter of this basin is the small crater Clausius.The selenographic coordinates of this...
. It is completely enclosed by mare material, although the tiny satellite crater Clausius A lies just to the north. The rim of Clausius is low and sharp, with a slightly oval shape that is longer in the north-south direction. The interior floor has been flooded by basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
ic 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...
, and appears level and featureless with a darker surface that matches the mare surface that surrounds the crater exterior.
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 Clausius.| Clausius | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 36.3° S | 43.9° W | 7 km |
| B | 36.0° S | 40.1° W | 23 km |
| BA | 35.7° S | 40.1° W | 17 km |
| C | 35.4° S | 38.9° W | 15 km |
| D | 38.2° S | 44.6° W | 18 km |
| E | 36.4° S | 45.5° W | 6 km |
| F | 36.5° S | 38.1° W | 26 km |
| G | 37.1° S | 41.0° W | 6 km |
| H | 37.8° S | 39.6° W | 7 km |
| J | 37.2° S | 42.7° W | 4 km |