Hecataeus (crater)

Hecataeus

Oblique view from Apollo 15
Coordinates 21°48′S 79°24′E / 21.8°S 79.4°E / -21.8; 79.4Coordinates: 21°48′S 79°24′E / 21.8°S 79.4°E / -21.8; 79.4
Diameter 167 km
Depth Unknown
Colongitude 283° at sunrise
Eponym Hecataeus of Miletus

Hecataeus is a large lunar crater that lies near the eastern limb of the Moon. It is attached to the northern rim of the walled plain Humboldt. To the northeast is the smaller crater Gibbs. East of Hecataeus is a chain of small craters forming a line radial to Humboldt; these are designated the Catena Humboldt, named after the walled plain.

Hecataeus is a worn and eroded walled plain with wide inner walls. Its northern part overlies half of Hecataeus K, a fairly substantial crater. Along the southern rim, the outer rampart of ejecta from Humboldt forms a rugged interior surface across the southern floor. Several small, bowl-shaped craters lay across the eastern rim and inner wall. The western rim is much less damaged by impacts, although it is still eroded. The northern part of the interior floor is relatively featureless.

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 Hecataeus.

Hecataeus Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 22.0° S 81.6° E 11 km
B 19.5° S 75.6° E 69 km
C 19.0° S 73.2° E 22 km
E 18.5° S 72.8° E 13 km
J 22.6° S 80.8° E 11 km
K 19.1° S 79.8° E 76 km
L 19.1° S 79.0° E 21 km
M 20.9° S 84.1° E 18 km
N 21.0° S 80.8° E 10 km

References

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  • Price, Fred W. (1988). The Moon Observer's Handbook. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-33500-3. 
  • Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 978-0-913135-17-4. 
  • Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3. 
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  • Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 978-1-85233-193-1. 
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