Schwarzschild (crater)
Encyclopedia
Schwarzschild is a large lunar
impact crater
that is
located in the northern part of the Moon
's far side. The nearest craters of note are Seares
to the northeast, and Gamow
to the southeast.
The somewhat irregular outer rim of Schwarzschild has been overlain by many smaller impact craters, including most notably Schwarzschild K across the southeastern face and Schwarzschild D on the northeastern rim. The rim is roughly circular in form, with an outward bulge along the southwestern side. The rim has been softened and modified by impact erosion, particularly to the northeast. Just to the northeast of Schwarzschild K is a short chain of small craters lying across the rim and inner wall of Schwarzschild.
The inner floor of Schwarzschild is relatively level by comparison with the rugged terrain outside, and is particularly flat in the north-northeastern half. There is a region of low, irregular ridges to the west of the mid-point. Lying in the southeastern part of the floor is the satellite crater Schwarzschild L, and surrounding this interior crater is an outer rampart formed from the ejecta material during its formation.
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 far side. The nearest craters of note are Seares
Seares (crater)
Seares is a lunar impact crater located in the northern part of the Moon's far side. It lies to the east-northeast of the walled plain Schwarzschild, and to the west of the prominent crater Karpinskiy....
to the northeast, and Gamow
Gamow (crater)
Gamow is a large lunar crater on the far side of the Moon. It is located in the northern hemisphere, to the southeast of the walled plain Schwarzschild....
to the southeast.
The somewhat irregular outer rim of Schwarzschild has been overlain by many smaller impact craters, including most notably Schwarzschild K across the southeastern face and Schwarzschild D on the northeastern rim. The rim is roughly circular in form, with an outward bulge along the southwestern side. The rim has been softened and modified by impact erosion, particularly to the northeast. Just to the northeast of Schwarzschild K is a short chain of small craters lying across the rim and inner wall of Schwarzschild.
The inner floor of Schwarzschild is relatively level by comparison with the rugged terrain outside, and is particularly flat in the north-northeastern half. There is a region of low, irregular ridges to the west of the mid-point. Lying in the southeastern part of the floor is the satellite crater Schwarzschild L, and surrounding this interior crater is an outer rampart formed from the ejecta material during its formation.
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 Schwarzschild.| Schwarzschild | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 78.7° N | 124.0° E | 50 km |
| D | 71.9° N | 132.4° E | 24 km |
| K | 67.5° N | 125.0° E | 45 km |
| L | 69.3° N | 122.1° E | 45 km |
| Q | 66.3° N | 108.9° E | 19 km |
| S | 67.8° N | 104.7° E | 17 km |
| T | 69.9° N | 107.7° E | 16 km |