Curtius (crater)
Encyclopedia
Curtius is a lunar
impact crater
that is located in the southern part of the Moon
. From the Earth
the crater appears foreshortened, making it more difficult to observe detail. Nevertheless this is a large crater that can be readily found in even small telescopes. Curtius is located within one crater diameter of the still-larger Moretus
to the southwest. To the northeast is the smaller Pentland
. Curtius is 95 kilometers in diameter and 6.8 kilometers deep. It is from the Nectarian
period, 3.92 to 3.85 billion years ago.
The outer rim of Curtius has been softened due to impact erosion, but it retains much of its original structure. Along the north and northwest parts of the rim are a pair of notable outward bulges that ruin the overall symmetry of the crater. There is a small satellite crater, Curtius E, lying across the eastern rim, and a small, bowl-shaped craterlet Curtius A along the southern rim.
The interior floor is relatively level, with a low, rounded central peaks near the mid-point. The northern part of the inner wall has extended further into the crater floor than elsewehere, producing a slightly irregular surface. The floor is covered by a number of tiny craterlets, but there are no other impacts of note across the interior.
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 is located in the southern 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...
. 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 crater appears foreshortened, making it more difficult to observe detail. Nevertheless this is a large crater that can be readily found in even small telescopes. Curtius is located within one crater diameter of the still-larger Moretus
Moretus (crater)
Moretus is a lunar impact crater located in the heavily cratered highland region near the south pole of the Moon. South of it is the crater Short, while to the north is Cysatus. To the northwest lies Gruemberger, and Curtius is located to the northeast...
to the southwest. To the northeast is the smaller Pentland
Pentland (crater)
Pentland is a lunar impact crater that lies in the southern part of the Moon, and appears foreshortened when viewed from the Earth. About one crater diameter to the southwest is the larger crater Curtius, and to the north-northwest lies Zach....
. Curtius is 95 kilometers in diameter and 6.8 kilometers deep. It is from the Nectarian
Nectarian
The Nectarian Period of the lunar geologic timescale runs from 3920 million years ago to 3850 million years ago. It is the period during which the Nectaris Basin and other major basins were formed by large impact events...
period, 3.92 to 3.85 billion years ago.
The outer rim of Curtius has been softened due to impact erosion, but it retains much of its original structure. Along the north and northwest parts of the rim are a pair of notable outward bulges that ruin the overall symmetry of the crater. There is a small satellite crater, Curtius E, lying across the eastern rim, and a small, bowl-shaped craterlet Curtius A along the southern rim.
The interior floor is relatively level, with a low, rounded central peaks near the mid-point. The northern part of the inner wall has extended further into the crater floor than elsewehere, producing a slightly irregular surface. The floor is covered by a number of tiny craterlets, but there are no other impacts of note across the interior.
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 Curtius.| Curtius | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 68.5° S | 2.7° E | 12 km |
| B | 63.7° S | 4.7° E | 41 km |
| C | 69.2° S | 4.4° E | 10 km |
| D | 64.8° S | 8.1° E | 61 km |
| E | 67.2° S | 8.2° E | 15 km |
| F | 66.5° S | 2.7° E | 6 km |
| G | 65.9° S | 3.1° E | 6 km |
| H | 69.4° S | 8.2° E | 10 km |
| K | 69.1° S | 9.8° E | 6 km |
| L | 68.2° S | 9.4° E | 7 km |
| M | 65.5° S | 8.6° E | 5 km |