Aston (crater)
Encyclopedia
Aston is a lunar
impact crater
that is located along the northwest limb of the Moon
. Because of its location the crater is seen nearly from on edge, and visibility is subject to libration
. It lies to the east of the crater Röntgen
, some distance due west of Ulugh Beigh
on the edge of the Oceanus Procellarum
. To the south is the crater Voskresenskiy
.
The rim of Aston has been worn down and rounded due to subsequent impacts. It forms a circular shape that has not been significantly altered by nearby impacts. The interior floor is relatively flat and featureless, with no central peak of significance.
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
impact crater
Impact crater
In the broadest sense, the term impact crater can be applied to any depression, natural or manmade, resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with a larger body...
that is located along the northwest limb of the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. Because of its location the crater is seen nearly from on edge, and visibility is subject to libration
Libration
In astronomy, libration is an oscillating motion of orbiting bodies relative to each other, notably including the motion of the Moon relative to Earth, or of Trojan asteroids relative to planets.-Lunar libration:...
. It lies to the east of the crater Röntgen
Röntgen (crater)
Röntgen is a relatively large lunar impact crater that lies along the northwestern limb of the Moon. Its northwestern outer rim is partly overlain by the crater Nernst. Both Nernst and Röntgen overlie the eastern rim of the much larger walled plain Lorentz. The smaller crater Aston is separated...
, some distance due west of Ulugh Beigh
Ulugh Beigh (crater)
Ulugh Beigh is the remnant of a lunar crater that is located just to the west of the Oceanus Procellarum. It is located near the northwestern limb of the Moon, and from the Earth it appears foreshortened. Farther to the west is the smaller crater Aston, and to the north is Lavoisier...
on the edge of the Oceanus Procellarum
Oceanus Procellarum
Oceanus Procellarum is a vast lunar mare on the western edge of the near side of the Earth's Moon. Its name derives from the old superstition that its appearance during the second quarter heralded bad weather...
. To the south is the crater Voskresenskiy
Voskresenskiy (crater)
Voskresenskiy is a lunar crater that is located near the western limb of the Moon. Due to its position, this crater is viewed edge-on, limiting the amount of detail that can be viewed...
.
The rim of Aston has been worn down and rounded due to subsequent impacts. It forms a circular shape that has not been significantly altered by nearby impacts. The interior floor is relatively flat and featureless, with no central peak of significance.
Satellite craters
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater mid-point that is closest to Aston.| Aston | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| K | 35.1° N | 87.8° W | 14 km |
| L | 35.5° N | 86.5° W | 10 km |