Longomontanus (crater)
Encyclopedia
Longomontanus is an ancient lunar
impact crater
located in the rugged southern highlands to the southwest of the bright ray crater Tycho
. It is of the variety of large lunar formations sometimes called a "walled plain", although it is actually more of a circular depression in the surface. Because of its location, Longomontanus appears distinctly oval in shape due to foreshortening.
To the southeast of Longomontanus is the even larger formation Clavius
, and to the east is Maginus
. North of the rim is the irregular crater Montanari
, which in turn is joined at its northern rim by Wilhelm
.
The wall of Longomontanus is heavily worn and incised by past impacts, and the rim is essentially level with the surrounding terrain. The northern rim especially is impacted with multiple overlapping craterlets. To the east of the rim is a semi-circular ridge that has the appearance of an overlapped crater rim. The crater floor of Longomontanus is relatively flat, with a low cluster of central peaks somewhat offset to the west.
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...
located in the rugged southern highlands to the southwest of the bright ray 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,...
. It is of the variety of large lunar formations sometimes called a "walled plain", although it is actually more of a circular depression in the surface. Because of its location, Longomontanus appears distinctly oval in shape due to foreshortening.
To the southeast of Longomontanus is the even larger formation Clavius
Clavius (crater)
Clavius is one of the largest crater formations on the Moon, and it is the third largest crater on the visible near side. It is located in the rugged southern highlands of the Moon, to the south of the prominent ray crater Tycho.- Description :...
, and to the east is Maginus
Maginus (crater)
Maginus is an ancient lunar impact crater located in the southern highlands to the southeast of the prominent crater Tycho. It is a large formation almost three quarters the diameter of Clavius, which lies to the southwest...
. North of the rim is the irregular crater Montanari
Montanari (crater)
Montanari is a lunar crater. It is located to the west-southwest of the prominent ray crater Tycho, and is attached to the southern rim of the walled plain Wilhelm...
, which in turn is joined at its northern rim by Wilhelm
Wilhelm (crater)
Wilhelm is a lunar crater in the southern part of the Moon, to the west of the prominent Tycho. Portions of the ray material from Tycho lie across the rim and floor of Wilhelm. Attached to its southern rim is the crater Montanari, while Lagalla is attached to the southwest. To the north-northeast...
.
The wall of Longomontanus is heavily worn and incised by past impacts, and the rim is essentially level with the surrounding terrain. The northern rim especially is impacted with multiple overlapping craterlets. To the east of the rim is a semi-circular ridge that has the appearance of an overlapped crater rim. The crater floor of Longomontanus is relatively flat, with a low cluster of central peaks somewhat offset to the west.
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 Longomontanus.| Longomontanus | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 52.8° S | 24.0° W | 29 km |
| B | 52.9° S | 20.7° W | 48 km |
| C | 53.4° S | 19.0° W | 31 km |
| D | 54.3° S | 22.9° W | 29 km |
| E | 51.4° S | 18.0° W | 8 km |
| F | 48.2° S | 23.5° W | 19 km |
| G | 48.7° S | 18.5° W | 15 km |
| H | 52.0° S | 23.2° W | 7 km |
| K | 47.9° S | 20.9° W | 15 km |
| L | 49.1° S | 23.6° W | 16 km |
| M | 48.6° S | 23.2° W | 10 km |
| N | 50.8° S | 25.7° W | 12 km |
| P | 48.1° S | 25.3° W | 7 km |
| Q | 52.0° S | 20.5° W | 11 km |
| R | 52.4° S | 26.1° W | 9 km |
| S | 47.4° S | 23.3° W | 12 km |
| T | 46.8° S | 22.7° W | 5 km |
| U | 52.0° S | 22.0° W | 7 km |
| V | 50.7° S | 18.9° W | 5 km |
| W | 47.1° S | 21.3° W | 10 km |
| X | 53.0° S | 17.7° W | 5 km |
| Y | 52.3° S | 28.2° W | 4 km |
| Z | 50.0° S | 18.7° W | 95 km |