Regnault (crater)
Encyclopedia
Regnault is a lunar
impact crater
that is located close to the northwest limb of the Moon
. It lies across the western rim of the walled plain Volta
, with the slightly smaller crater Stokes
attached to the southern outer rim. Due to its location, Regnault is not favorably placed for viewing from the Earth
. It is seen at a very oblique angle, limiting the detail that can be viewed. The visibility of this crater is also affected by libration
of the Moon.
As the eastern rim of Regnault lies across the rim of Volta, that eastern rim is somewhat less prominent than the western half. The rim has not been heavily eroded, although a small craterlet lies across the northern rim. Where it joins Stokes to the south, the rim has been straightened slightly, and ejecta lies across part of the interior floor. The inner walls of Regnault are relatively simple slopes that lead down to the level interior floor. This base is marked only by a few tiny craters and has no central peak.
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 close to the northwest 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 lies across the western rim of the walled plain Volta
Volta (crater)
Volta is a lunar crater near the northwest limb of the Moon. It is located south-southeast of the crater Xenophanes, and due north of the smaller Galvani. The crater Regnault lies across the western rim of Volta. Attached to the southwest rim of Volta and the southern rim of Regnault is Stokes...
, with the slightly smaller crater Stokes
Stokes (lunar crater)
Stokes is a lunar crater that is nestled in the curve formed by the craters Regnault to the north, Volta along the northeast, and Langley. This formation of craters lies nearly along the northwestern limb of the Moon, where their visibility is affected by libration effects.The rim of this crater...
attached to the southern outer rim. Due to its location, Regnault is not favorably placed for viewing 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...
. It is seen at a very oblique angle, limiting the detail that can be viewed. The visibility of this crater is also 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:...
of the Moon.
As the eastern rim of Regnault lies across the rim of Volta, that eastern rim is somewhat less prominent than the western half. The rim has not been heavily eroded, although a small craterlet lies across the northern rim. Where it joins Stokes to the south, the rim has been straightened slightly, and ejecta lies across part of the interior floor. The inner walls of Regnault are relatively simple slopes that lead down to the level interior floor. This base is marked only by a few tiny craters and has no central peak.
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 Regnault.| Regnault | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 55.2° N | 89.2° W | 14 km |
| W | 53.5° N | 89.9° W | 15 km |