Fraunhofer (crater)
Encyclopedia
Fraunhofer is a lunar
crater
that is located just to the south-southwest of the walled plain Furnerius
, in the southeastern part of the Moon
. This crater appears foreshortened when viewed from the Earth
, and is actually nearly circular.
This crater has undergone some erosion from lesser impacts, particularly along the northern part of the rim. The satellite crater Fraunhofer V lies along the northwestern edge and part of the inner wall. A pair of smaller craters also lie along the northern rim. The remainder of the rim is relatively intact, with small craterlets along parts of the inner wall. The interior floor is nearly level and is marked by a several small craterlets. The southern two thirds of the floor has a slightly lower albedo
than the northern part.
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 just to the south-southwest of the walled plain Furnerius
Furnerius (crater)
Furnerius is a large lunar crater located in the southeast part of the Moon, in the area close to the southwestern limb. Because of its location, the crater appears oval in shape due to foreshortening but is actually nearly circular. Notable nearby craters include Stevinus to the northwest and...
, in the southeastern 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...
. This crater appears foreshortened when viewed 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...
, and is actually nearly circular.
This crater has undergone some erosion from lesser impacts, particularly along the northern part of the rim. The satellite crater Fraunhofer V lies along the northwestern edge and part of the inner wall. A pair of smaller craters also lie along the northern rim. The remainder of the rim is relatively intact, with small craterlets along parts of the inner wall. The interior floor is nearly level and is marked by a several small craterlets. The southern two thirds of the floor has a slightly lower 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...
than the northern part.
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 Fraunhofer.| Fraunhofer | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 39.6° S | 61.7° E | 29 km |
| B | 41.8° S | 67.3° E | 36 km |
| C | 42.9° S | 64.7° E | 38 km |
| D | 43.1° S | 69.0° E | 17 km |
| E | 43.4° S | 61.7° E | 42 km |
| F | 41.7° S | 59.8° E | 16 km |
| G | 38.5° S | 58.3° E | 11 km |
| H | 40.8° S | 61.7° E | 43 km |
| J | 42.4° S | 63.6° E | 63 km |
| K | 42.5° S | 69.3° E | 16 km |
| L | 42.1° S | 68.8° E | 8 km |
| M | 40.9° S | 65.6° E | 21 km |
| N | 40.9° S | 64.4° E | 12 km |
| R | 43.5° S | 68.7° E | 11 km |
| S | 43.1° S | 69.9° E | 13 km |
| T | 37.9° S | 55.7° E | 8 km |
| U | 40.2° S | 65.1° E | 24 km |
| V | 39.0° S | 58.0° E | 24 km |
| W | 39.4° S | 62.8° E | 18 km |
| X | 39.7° S | 60.6° E | 6 km |
| Y | 40.2° S | 63.0° E | 13 km |
| Z | 39.9° S | 63.9° E | 14 km |