![]() Lunar Orbiter 4 image | |
Coordinates | 13°12′N72°24′W / 13.2°N 72.4°W /13.2; -72.4 |
---|---|
Diameter | 50 km |
Depth | 1.3 km |
Colongitude | 72° at sunrise |
Eponym | Gerolamo Cardano |
Cardanus is alunarimpact crater that is located in the western part of theMoon, in the western part of theOceanus Procellarum. Due to its location the crater appears very oval because of foreshortening, and it is viewed almost from the side.
Cardanus is distinctive for the chain of craters, designated Catena Krafft, that connect its northern rim with the craterKrafft to the north. The outer rim is sharp-edged and somewhat irregular, with a hummocky outer rampart andterraces along parts of the inner wall. The crater floor has several small craterlets across its surface, and it has a low ridge near the midpoint. The floor surface is somewhat irregular in the southwest, but nearly featureless elsewhere.
To the southwest is therille designated Rima Cardanus, a cleft in the mare that generally follows a northeasterly direction. To the southeast, beyond the rille, is the small craterGalilaei. Southwest of Cardanus isOlbers.
Cardanus is a crater of Upper (Late)Imbrian age.[1]
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Cardanus.
Cardanus | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
---|---|---|---|
B | 11.4° N | 73.8° W | 13 km |
C | 11.3° N | 76.2° W | 14 km |
E | 12.7° N | 70.7° W | 6 km |
G | 11.5° N | 74.9° W | 8 km |
K | 14.2° N | 76.8° W | 8 km |
M | 14.9° N | 77.1° W | 9 km |
R | 12.3° N | 73.4° W | 21 km |
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