Astronomy:Kuiper (lunar crater)

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Short description: Crater on the Moon
Kuiper
Kuiper crater AS16-P-5441.jpg
Apollo 16 image
Diameter7 km
Depth1.3 km
Colongitude23° at sunrise


Kuiper (/ˈkpər/ KY-pər) is a small lunar impact crater in a relatively featureless part of the Mare Cognitum. It is a circular, cup-shaped feature with only some minor wear. It was named after Dutch-American astronomer Gerard Kuiper in 1976.[1] Kuiper was the Project Scientist for the Ranger program. This crater was previously identified as Bonpland E. The lava-flooded crater Bonpland lies to the east at the edge of the Mare Cognitum.

To the east-southeast of Kuiper crater is the crash landing site of the Ranger 7 probe, the first American spacecraft to photograph the Moon.

References

  1. "Kuiper (lunar crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.

External links