Gauricus (crater)
Encyclopedia
Gauricus is a lunar
crater
that is located in the rugged southern part of the Moon's
near side. Nearly attached to the western rim is the heavily eroded crater Wurzelbauer
, and to the north-northwest lies Pitatus
.
The rim of this crater has become worn and eroded by subsequent impacts, resulting in a round-shouldered outer wall that is pock-marked by a number of lesser craters. The most notable of these are Gauricus B and Gauricus D along the southern rim and Gauricus G intrudes into the eastern rim. The worn satellite crater Gauricus A is attached to the exterior rim along the south-southwest.
In contrast, the interior floor is relatively level and featureless. Only the merged crater formation Gauricus F, lying along the northern rim, marks the floor. The bottom is covered by wisps of ray material
from Tycho
to the south.
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 rugged southern part of the Moon's
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...
near side. Nearly attached to the western rim is the heavily eroded crater Wurzelbauer
Wurzelbauer (crater)
Wurzelbauer is the remnant of a lunar crater. It is located in the rugged terrain on the Moon's southern hemisphere. The slightly smaller crater Gauricus lies next to the eastern rim, while to the north-northeast is Pitatus....
, and to the north-northwest lies Pitatus
Pitatus (crater)
Pitatus is an ancient lunar impact crater located at the southern edge of Mare Nubium. Joined to the northwest rim is the crater Hesiodus, and the two are joined by a narrow cleft. To the south lie the attached Wurzelbauer and Gauricus....
.
The rim of this crater has become worn and eroded by subsequent impacts, resulting in a round-shouldered outer wall that is pock-marked by a number of lesser craters. The most notable of these are Gauricus B and Gauricus D along the southern rim and Gauricus G intrudes into the eastern rim. The worn satellite crater Gauricus A is attached to the exterior rim along the south-southwest.
In contrast, the interior floor is relatively level and featureless. Only the merged crater formation Gauricus F, lying along the northern rim, marks the floor. The bottom is covered by wisps of ray material
Ray system
A ray system comprises radial streaks of fine ejecta thrown out during the formation of an impact crater, looking a bit like many thin spokes coming from the hub of a wheel. The rays can extend for lengths up to several times the diameter of their originating crater, and are often accompanied by...
from Tycho
Tycho (crater)
Tycho is a prominent lunar impact crater located in the southern lunar highlands, named after the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe . To the south is the crater Street; to the east is Pictet, and to the north-northeast is Sasserides. The surface around Tycho is replete with craters of various sizes,...
to the south.
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 Gauricus.| Gauricus | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 35.6° S | 13.4° W | 38 km |
| B | 35.3° S | 12.2° W | 23 km |
| C | 35.2° S | 10.7° W | 11 km |
| D | 35.1° S | 11.4° W | 13 km |
| E | 32.5° S | 11.8° W | 7 km |
| F | 33.0° S | 12.6° W | 12 km |
| G | 33.9° S | 11.0° W | 18 km |
| H | 38.1° S | 13.3° W | 8 km |
| J | 32.3° S | 11.9° W | 10 km |
| K | 33.3° S | 13.9° W | 5 km |
| L | 34.0° S | 13.8° W | 4 km |
| M | 34.4° S | 13.6° W | 6 km |
| N | 32.4° S | 12.7° W | 7 km |
| P | 35.1° S | 12.4° W | 6 km |
| R | 34.8° S | 13.3° W | 6 km |
| S | 33.9° S | 10.1° W | 15 km |