Astronomy:Reiner (crater)

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Short description: Crater on the Moon
Reiner
Reiner crater 4157 h1 4157 h2.jpg
Diameter30 km
Depth2.6 km
Colongitude55° at sunrise
Oblique view of Reiner at the terminator facing west, from Apollo 12.

Reiner is a lunar impact crater on the Oceanus Procellarum, in the western part of the Moon. It has a nearly circular rim, but appears oval in shape due to foreshortening. The rim edge is well-defined and has not been eroded by impacts. In the midpoint of the irregular crater floor is a central peak. Outside the rim is a hummocky rampart that extends out across the mare for about half a crater diameter.

To the west-northwest of the crater on the Oceanus Procellarum is the unusual feature Reiner Gamma, a fish-shaped surface marking of ray-like material with a high albedo.

Reiner is a crater of Eratosthenian age.[1] It is named after the astronomer Vincentio Reinieri, a disciple of Galileo Galilei.

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 Reiner.

Reiner Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 5.2° N 51.4° W 10 km
C 3.5° N 51.5° W 7 km
E 1.9° N 49.6° W 4 km
G 3.3° N 54.3° W 3 km
H 9.1° N 54.7° W 8 km
K 8.1° N 53.9° W 3 km
L 8.0° N 54.6° W 6 km
M 8.6° N 56.1° W 3 km
N 5.4° N 57.5° W 4 km
Q 1.4° N 50.9° W 3 km
R 3.7° N 55.5° W 45 km
S 2.2° N 50.7° W 4 km
T 3.7° N 52.2° W 2 km
U 4.1° N 52.5° W 3 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.