Winthrop (crater)
Encyclopedia
Winthrop is the remnant of a lunar
crater
that has been flooded by lava
from the Oceanus Procellarum
. It lies across the western rim of the much larger crater Letronne
, a much larger feature that has been nearly destroyed by the intruding mare
lavas. All that survives of Winthrop are a few segments of the outer rim.
Winthrop was previously identified as Letronne P before being renamed by the IAU
.
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 has been flooded 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...
from the Oceanus Procellarum
Oceanus Procellarum
Oceanus Procellarum is a vast lunar mare on the western edge of the near side of the Earth's Moon. Its name derives from the old superstition that its appearance during the second quarter heralded bad weather...
. It lies across the western rim of the much larger crater Letronne
Letronne (crater)
Letronne is the lava-flooded remnant of a lunar crater. The northern part of the rim is completely missing, and opens into the Oceanus Procellarum, forming a bay along the southwestern shore...
, a much larger feature that has been nearly destroyed by the intruding mare
Lunar mare
The lunar maria are large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth's Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They were dubbed maria, Latin for "seas", by early astronomers who mistook them for actual seas. They are less reflective than the "highlands" as a result of their iron-rich compositions, and...
lavas. All that survives of Winthrop are a few segments of the outer rim.
Winthrop was previously identified as Letronne P before being renamed by the IAU
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
.