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Philolaus (crater)
Encyclopedia
Philolaus is a lunar
impact crater
that is located in the northern part of the Moon
's near side. It lies within one crater diameter to the east-southeast of the flooded crater Anaximenes
, and to the west of the smaller Anaxagoras
. It overlies the older and heavily worn Philolaus C to the south.
This crater retains a well-defined form that has not changed significantly since it was originally created. The outer rim edge is roughly circular, but with a somewhat irregular edge that displays signs of slumping. The most notable slump is a triangular area along the eastern rim. The inner wall of the crater has a complex system of terraces with a sharp-edged rim in locations where slumping has occurred. On the exterior of the rim is an outer rampart that extends outwards for nearly half a crater diameter in all directions.
The interior floor is irregular with rough areas about the center and to the northeast. There is no single central peak, but rather a pair of peaks offset to the south and the east of the middle. There is also a smaller ridge pair offset to the northwest. The flattest part of the interior floor is in the northeast of the crater interior. The floor is not significantly marked by impacts.
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 is located in the northern 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...
's near side. It lies within one crater diameter to the east-southeast of the flooded crater Anaximenes
Anaximenes (crater)
Anaximenes is a low-rimmed lunar crater that is located near the north-northwest limb of the Moon. It lies to the west of the crater Philolaus, and northeast of Carpenter. To the northwest is Poncelet, close to the visible edge of the Moon....
, and to the west of the smaller Anaxagoras
Anaxagoras (crater)
Anaxagoras is a young lunar impact crater that is located near the north pole of the Moon. It lies across the larger and more heavily worn crater Goldschmidt. To the south-southeast is Epigenes, and due south is the worn remains of Birmingham....
. It overlies the older and heavily worn Philolaus C to the south.
This crater retains a well-defined form that has not changed significantly since it was originally created. The outer rim edge is roughly circular, but with a somewhat irregular edge that displays signs of slumping. The most notable slump is a triangular area along the eastern rim. The inner wall of the crater has a complex system of terraces with a sharp-edged rim in locations where slumping has occurred. On the exterior of the rim is an outer rampart that extends outwards for nearly half a crater diameter in all directions.
The interior floor is irregular with rough areas about the center and to the northeast. There is no single central peak, but rather a pair of peaks offset to the south and the east of the middle. There is also a smaller ridge pair offset to the northwest. The flattest part of the interior floor is in the northeast of the crater interior. The floor is not significantly marked by impacts.
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 Philolaus.| Philolaus | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 69.6° N | 24.3° W | 11 km |
| C | 71.1° N | 32.7° W | 95 km |
| D | 73.9° N | 27.8° W | 91 km |
| E | 69.6° N | 18.7° W | 12 km |
| F | 68.1° N | 18.3° W | 8 km |
| G | 69.0° N | 23.6° W | 95 km |
| U | 75.0° N | 33.0° W | 13 km |
| W | 75.6° N | 35.9° W | 17 km |