Pascal (crater)
Encyclopedia
Pascal is a lunar
crater
that lies near the northern limb of the Moon
, on the western side of the pole. It is located to the north of the eroded crater Desargues
, and just east of Brianchon
. Pascal can be located by finding the crater Carpenter
and then following the surface to the northwest towards the limb. However the visibility of this formation can be affected by libration
.
This crater has undergone a degree of impact erosion that has left its features softened and rounded. The rim can still be followed around the perimeter, but it is no longer sharp-edged and the interior terraces have been all but worn away. Several craters lie across the outer rim, including the sharp-edged Pascal F intruding into the northwest rim; a more worn Pascal A intruding into the southwest; and the small, bowl-shaped Pascal G along the southeast rim.
Within the wide inner walls is a nearly level interior floor that has been resurfaced by lava
. At the mid-point is a low ridge, forming a minor central peak. There are tiny craters at the north end of the floor, and at the northeast end of the central ridge. There is also a small chain of craterlets lying across the northeast inner wall.
Just to the north of Pascal is Poncelet C, a satellite crater of the lava
-flooded Poncelet
to the east. The rim of this crater is bisected by several grooves in the surface, one of which crosses the southeast rim and cuts across tangentially to the northeastern rim of Pascal.
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 lies near the northern 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...
, on the western side of the pole. It is located to the north of the eroded crater Desargues
Desargues (crater)
Desargues is an ancient lunar crater that is located near the northern limb of the Moon, on the western hemisphere. It lies nearly due south of the crater Pascal, and southeast of Brianchon...
, and just east of Brianchon
Brianchon (crater)
Brianchon is a lunar crater that is located along the northwestern limb of the Moon. Due to its location, from the Earth the crater is seen from the edge and its visibility is somewhat affected by libration. Thus for a more detailed view, the crater must be viewed from orbit.This crater lies just...
. Pascal can be located by finding the crater Carpenter
Carpenter (crater)
Carpenter is a lunar impact crater in the northern part of the Moon, relatively close to the limb. At this position the crater is foreshortened and appears oval in shape. It is, however, very nearly circular in outline. The outer rampart to the south is adjoined to the old crater Anaximander, and...
and then following the surface to the northwest towards the limb. However the visibility of this formation can be affected by 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:...
.
This crater has undergone a degree of impact erosion that has left its features softened and rounded. The rim can still be followed around the perimeter, but it is no longer sharp-edged and the interior terraces have been all but worn away. Several craters lie across the outer rim, including the sharp-edged Pascal F intruding into the northwest rim; a more worn Pascal A intruding into the southwest; and the small, bowl-shaped Pascal G along the southeast rim.
Within the wide inner walls is a nearly level interior floor that has been resurfaced 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...
. At the mid-point is a low ridge, forming a minor central peak. There are tiny craters at the north end of the floor, and at the northeast end of the central ridge. There is also a small chain of craterlets lying across the northeast inner wall.
Just to the north of Pascal is Poncelet C, a satellite crater of the 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...
-flooded Poncelet
Poncelet (crater)
Poncelet is the remains of a lunar crater that is located near the northern limb of the Moon. It lies to the east-northeast of the crater Pascal and northwest of Anaximenes. Like the latter formation, Poncelet is a worn, eroded formation with an interior that has been flooded, either with lava or...
to the east. The rim of this crater is bisected by several grooves in the surface, one of which crosses the southeast rim and cuts across tangentially to the northeastern rim of Pascal.
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 Pascal.| Pascal | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 72.9° N | 74.6° W | 28 km |
| F | 75.6° N | 75.6° W | 27 km |
| G | 73.0° N | 65.7° W | 14 km |
| J | 72.2° N | 69.0° W | 14 km |
| L | 73.8° N | 63.0° W | 15 km |