Pentland (crater)
Encyclopedia
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
.
The rim of this crater is somewhat worn, and it has a depression along the southern edge where it is attached to a small crater on the exterior. The inner wall retains some structure in places, and has a shelf along the northeast side. The interior floor is level, with an elongated central rise at the mid-point. Otherwise the floor is nearly featureless, except for a few tiny 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...
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 lies 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...
, and 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...
. About one crater diameter to the southwest is the larger crater Curtius
Curtius (crater)
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...
, and to the north-northwest lies Zach
Zach (crater)
Zach is a lunar impact crater located in the heavily cratered southern sector of the Moon. To the north is the crater Lilius, while to the southeast is Pentland and to the south the larger Curtius. Due to foreshortening, the crater has an oblong appearance when viewed from Earth. The crater is 71...
.
The rim of this crater is somewhat worn, and it has a depression along the southern edge where it is attached to a small crater on the exterior. The inner wall retains some structure in places, and has a shelf along the northeast side. The interior floor is level, with an elongated central rise at the mid-point. Otherwise the floor is nearly featureless, except for a few tiny 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 Pentland.| Pentland | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 67.4° S | 13.5° E | 44 km |
| B | 66.2° S | 14.1° E | 30 km |
| C | 65.0° S | 16.3° E | 37 km |
| D | 63.2° S | 14.1° E | 35 km |
| Da | 62.9° S | 14.3° E | 54 km |
| E | 67.9° S | 13.4° E | 11 km |
| F | 62.1° S | 11.3° E | 12 km |
| J | 64.4° S | 14.6° E | 9 km |
| K | 66.7° S | 17.7° E | 12 km |
| L | 65.6° S | 17.8° E | 2 km |
| M | 64.5° S | 17.2° E | 7 km |
| N | 63.5° S | 17.2° E | 25 km |
| O | 63.0° S | 18.3° E | 15 km |
| P | 67.7° S | 14.5° E | 8 km |