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Curie (lunar crater)
Encyclopedia
Curie is a large lunar
crater
, much of which lies on the far side of the Moon
as seen from the Earth
. The western rim projects into the near side of the Moon, as defined by the selenographic coordinate system. However the visibility of this formation depends on the effects of libration
, so that it can be brought fully into view or completely hidden depending on the orientation of the Moon. When visible, however, it is seen nearly from the side, limiting the amount of detail that can be observed.
Nearby craters of note include Schorr
to the northwest and the walled plain Sklodowska
to the northeast. Attached to the southeastern rim is the heavily damaged walled plain Lauritsen
. Both Sklodowska and Lauritsen are smaller than Curie.
The outer rim of Curie has been damaged and reshaped by nearby impacts. The sides of the rim are relatively linear, giving the crater an overall box-like shape. The eastern part of the rim is partly overlaid by the notable satellite craters Curie C to the northeast and Curie G along the east. At the northern end the rim is overlaid by the small crater Curie Z. Several other small craters lie along the rim, especially to the southwest.
The interior floor of Curie forms a relatively level plain, at least in comparison to the terrain that surrounds the crater. However this floor is disrupted in several locations by small impacts. A cluster of such impacts lies near the southwestern rim, with several of these craters overlapping each other. The small crater Curie K is located in the southeastern part of the floor, and Curie V lies alongside the northwestern inner wall.
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...
, much of which lies on the far side 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...
as seen from the Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. The western rim projects into the near side of the Moon, as defined by the selenographic coordinate system. However the visibility of this formation depends on the effects of libration
Libration
In astronomy, libration is an oscillating motion of orbiting bodies relative to each other, notably including the motion of the Moon relative to Earth, or of Trojan asteroids relative to planets.-Lunar libration:...
, so that it can be brought fully into view or completely hidden depending on the orientation of the Moon. When visible, however, it is seen nearly from the side, limiting the amount of detail that can be observed.
Nearby craters of note include Schorr
Schorr (crater)
Schorr is a lunar impact crater that lies across the eastern limb of the Moon. From the Earth this crater is viewed from the side, limiting the amount of detail that can be observed. The visibility of this crater is also affected by libration of the Moon in its orbit...
to the northwest and the walled plain Sklodowska
Sklodowska (lunar crater)
Sklodowska is a large lunar impact crater that is located on the far side of the Moon. It lies just past the southeastern limb, and can sometimes be viewed from Earth under favorable conditions of libration and illumination...
to the northeast. Attached to the southeastern rim is the heavily damaged walled plain Lauritsen
Lauritsen (crater)
Lauritsen is a lunar crater that is located just behind the east-southeastern limb of the Moon. While it lies on the far side from the Earth, it is still possible to catch a glimse of this area under favorable conditions of libration and illumination...
. Both Sklodowska and Lauritsen are smaller than Curie.
The outer rim of Curie has been damaged and reshaped by nearby impacts. The sides of the rim are relatively linear, giving the crater an overall box-like shape. The eastern part of the rim is partly overlaid by the notable satellite craters Curie C to the northeast and Curie G along the east. At the northern end the rim is overlaid by the small crater Curie Z. Several other small craters lie along the rim, especially to the southwest.
The interior floor of Curie forms a relatively level plain, at least in comparison to the terrain that surrounds the crater. However this floor is disrupted in several locations by small impacts. A cluster of such impacts lies near the southwestern rim, with several of these craters overlapping each other. The small crater Curie K is located in the southeastern part of the floor, and Curie V lies alongside the northwestern inner wall.
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 Curie.| Curie | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 21.1° S | 94.1° E | 47 km |
| E | 22.4° S | 96.2° E | 43 km |
| G | 23.6° S | 94.8° E | 53 km |
| K | 23.7° S | 92.7° E | 12 km |
| L | 26.3° S | 92.8° E | 21 km |
| M | 28.4° S | 92.5° E | 34 km |
| P | 28.4° S | 90.1° E | 26 km |
| V | 22.0° S | 90.4° E | 21 km |
| Z | 20.5° S | 92.2° E | 25 km |