Da Vinci (lunar crater)
Encyclopedia
da Vinci is a lunar
crater
that is located in the eastern part of the Moon
, to the northwest of Mare Fecunditatis
. It lies along the eastern shore of the Sinus Concordiae
, a bay along the eastern edge of Mare Tranquillitatis
. Nearby craters include Watts
to the southeast and Lawrence
to the southwest, both smaller in dimension than da Vinci.
This formation has been heavily damaged and reshaped until it is scarcely recognizable as a crater. Sections of the low eastern rim and a portion to the northwest are still somewhat intact, although they more closely resemble curved ridges than a crater wall. There are gaps in the rim to the south and north, and the interior is irregular with portions having been resurfaced.
The terrain along the northern and western exterior of the crater is irregular and hilly. A low ridge to the southeast runs to the vicinity of Watts.
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...
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 in the eastern part 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...
, to the northwest of Mare Fecunditatis
Mare Fecunditatis
Mare Fecunditatis is a lunar mare which is 840 km in diameter. The Fecuditatis basin formed in the Pre-Nectarian epoch, while the basin material surrounding the mare is of the...
. It lies along the eastern shore of the Sinus Concordiae
Sinus Concordiae
Sinus Concordiae is a bay on the Moon that lies along the eastern edge of the Mare Tranquillitatis. Along its northern border is an area called the Palus Somni, while the southern border is an area of irregular terrain that contains the ruined crater Da Vinci...
, a bay along the eastern edge of Mare Tranquillitatis
Mare Tranquillitatis
Mare Tranquillitatis is a lunar mare that sits within the Tranquillitatis basin on the Moon. The mare material within the basin consists of basalt formed in the intermediate to young age group of the Upper Imbrian epoch. The surrounding mountains are thought to be of the Lower Imbrian epoch, but...
. Nearby craters include Watts
Watts (crater)
Watts is a small lunar crater that is located at the extreme northern edge of the Mare Fecunditatis. Just one crater diameter to the northwest is the irregular da Vinci. Farther to the south is the larger crater Taruntius....
to the southeast and Lawrence
Lawrence (crater)
Lawrence is a lunar crater that is located on a section of terrain to the east of Mare Tranquillitatis and northwest of Mare Fecunditatis. To the southeast is the larger crater Taruntius...
to the southwest, both smaller in dimension than da Vinci.
This formation has been heavily damaged and reshaped until it is scarcely recognizable as a crater. Sections of the low eastern rim and a portion to the northwest are still somewhat intact, although they more closely resemble curved ridges than a crater wall. There are gaps in the rim to the south and north, and the interior is irregular with portions having been resurfaced.
The terrain along the northern and western exterior of the crater is irregular and hilly. A low ridge to the southeast runs to the vicinity of Watts.
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 da Vinci.| da Vinci | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 9.7° N | 44.2° E | 18 km |