Hertzsprung (crater)
Encyclopedia
Hertzsprung is an enormous lunar
crater
that is located on the far side of the Moon
, beyond the western limb. In dimension, this formation is larger than several of the lunar mare
areas on the near side. It lies in the northwestern fringe of the blast radius of the Mare Orientale
impact basin. Nearby craters of note include Michelson
across the northeast rim, Vavilov
across the western rim, and Lucretius
to the southeast.
The outer rim of Hertzsprung has been damaged and modified by several notable impacts (mentioned above) and a number of smaller craters. A chain of small craters, designated Catena Lucretius, begins at the outer southeastern outer rim and proceeds toward the west-northwest until it connects with the perimeter of the inner basin. This inner area is less rough than the outer ring of the floor, and is surrounded by a circular range of ridges. The inner perimeter is also pierced by several craters, including Hertzsprung D along the eastern portion and Hertzsprung S on the western side. Nor is the interior of the inner basin free from impacts, including K, H, X, and L, listed in the table below.
The equator of the Moon passes through this formation, being located to the south of the mid-point and cutting through the central basin.
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 on the far side 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...
, beyond the western limb. In dimension, this formation is larger than several of the lunar mare
Lunar mare
The lunar maria are large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth's Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They were dubbed maria, Latin for "seas", by early astronomers who mistook them for actual seas. They are less reflective than the "highlands" as a result of their iron-rich compositions, and...
areas on the near side. It lies in the northwestern fringe of the blast radius of the Mare Orientale
Mare Orientale
Mare Orientale is one of the most striking large scale lunar features, resembling a target ring bull's-eye. Located on the extreme western edge of the lunar nearside, this impact basin is difficult to see from an Earthbound perspective.Material from this basin was not sampled by the Apollo program...
impact basin. Nearby craters of note include Michelson
Michelson (crater)
Michelson is a crater on the far side of the Moon. It lies along the northeastern outer rim of the huge walled plain Hertzsprung, and to the southwest of the crater Kolhörster....
across the northeast rim, Vavilov
Vavilov (crater)
Vavilov is a prominent impact crater that is located to the west of the walled plain Hertzsprung. It is located on the far side of the Moon and cannot be viewed directly from the Earth. About a crater diameter to the northwest is the smaller Chaucer, and farther to the southwest is Sechenov.This is...
across the western rim, and Lucretius
Lucretius (crater)
Lucretius is an impact crater on the far side of the Moon. It is located to the southeast of the huge walled plain Hertzsprung, within the outer skirt of ejecta that surrounds that impact feature. To the southwest of Lucretius lies Fridman....
to the southeast.
The outer rim of Hertzsprung has been damaged and modified by several notable impacts (mentioned above) and a number of smaller craters. A chain of small craters, designated Catena Lucretius, begins at the outer southeastern outer rim and proceeds toward the west-northwest until it connects with the perimeter of the inner basin. This inner area is less rough than the outer ring of the floor, and is surrounded by a circular range of ridges. The inner perimeter is also pierced by several craters, including Hertzsprung D along the eastern portion and Hertzsprung S on the western side. Nor is the interior of the inner basin free from impacts, including K, H, X, and L, listed in the table below.
The equator of the Moon passes through this formation, being located to the south of the mid-point and cutting through the central basin.
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 Hertzsprung.| Hertzsprung | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 3.3° N | 125.4° W | 45 km |
| H | 1.3° N | 124.4° W | 21 km |
| K | 0.5° S | 127.6° W | 27 km |
| L | 0.4° N | 127.8° W | 33 km |
| M | 7.5° S | 128.9° W | 36 km |
| P | 0.0° N | 129.3° W | 22 km |
| R | 0.1° S | 131.8° W | 33 km |
| S | 0.6° N | 132.5° W | 47 km |
| V | 5.2° N | 133.3° W | 39 km |
| X | 3.8° N | 129.1° W | 24 km |
| Y | 8.8° N | 131.2° W | 23 km |