Nasmyth (crater)
Encyclopedia
Nasmyth is a lunar
crater
located near the southwestern limb of the Moon
. It is attached to the southeast rim of the flooded crater Wargentin
, and the southern half is overlain by the larger Phocylides
.
The rim of Nasmyth is worn and impacted in several locations by craterlets, most notably Nasmyth D which lies across the north rim. The floor has been flooded by lava
flows in the past, making the surface relatively flat and the rim low. There is no central peak within the crater, but the floor is impacted by some small craterlets.
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...
located near the southwestern limb 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...
. It is attached to the southeast rim of the flooded crater Wargentin
Wargentin (crater)
Wargentin is an unusual lunar impact crater which has been filled to its rim by a basaltic lava flow, forming a raised plateau. When the lava flow occurred, it erupted from within the crater walls and proceeded to accumulate until overrunning the lowest portion of the rim. Some blockage then...
, and the southern half is overlain by the larger Phocylides
Phocylides (crater)
Phocylides is a lunar crater located near the southwest rim of the Moon. It overlays the south rim of the crater Nasmyth to the north. To the northwest is the unusual plateau formation of Wargentin. Eastward is the merged formation Schiller, and in the southwest lies Pingré.The outer wall of...
.
The rim of Nasmyth is worn and impacted in several locations by craterlets, most notably Nasmyth D which lies across the north rim. The floor has been flooded by 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...
flows in the past, making the surface relatively flat and the rim low. There is no central peak within the crater, but the floor is impacted by some small craterlets.
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 Nasmyth.| Nasmyth | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 49.2° S | 55.3° W | 13 km |
| E | 49.9° S | 57.6° W | 5 km |
| F | 50.0° S | 53.5° W | 9 km |
| G | 49.6° S | 53.8° W | 7 km |