Astronomy:Pythagoras (crater)

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Short description: Crater on the Moon
Pythagoras crater and closer craters
Pythagoras crater and closer craters
Pythagoras
Pythagoras crater.jpg
Pythagoras shadowed with its central peak seen near the terminator boundary
Diameter130 km
Depth5.0 km
Colongitude60° at sunrise
Lunar Orbiter 4 image
(four light spots are blemishes on original)

Pythagoras is a prominent impact crater located near the northwestern limb of the Moon. It lies just to the northwest of the somewhat larger Babbage. The crater has an oval appearance due to the oblique viewing angle. Only the western face of the interior can be viewed from the Earth, the other side being permanently out of sight.

The well-preserved rim of Pythagoras has a wide terrace system, and a slight rampart around the exterior. Although generally circular, the crater outline has a hexagonal form. The floor is flattened, but with an irregular, hilly surface. There is evidence of landslips around the periphery. In the center is a sharp, mountainous rise with a double peak that ascends 1.5 kilometers above the crater floor.

Pythagoras is a crater of Eratosthenian age.[1]

Satellite craters

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Pythagoras.

Pythagoras Latitude Longitude Diameter
B 66.1° N 73.0° W 17 km
D 64.5° N 72.0° W 30 km
G 67.8° N 75.3° W 16 km
H 67.1° N 73.3° W 18 km
K 67.3° N 75.4° W 12 km
L 67.3° N 77.6° W 12 km
M 67.5° N 81.1° W 10 km
N 66.6° N 78.1° W 14 km
P 65.3° N 75.2° W 10 km
S 67.7° N 64.7° W 8 km
T 62.5° N 51.4° W 6 km
W 63.1° N 48.9° W 4 km

References

  1. The geologic history of the Moon. USGS Professional Paper 1348. By Don E. Wilhelms, John F. McCauley, and Newell J. Trask. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington: 1987. Table 12.2.