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Linné (crater)
Encyclopedia
Linné is a small lunar impact crater
located in the western Mare Serenitatis
. The mare
around this feature is virtually devoid of other features of interest. The nearest named crater is Banting
to the east-southeast.
The estimated age of this crater is only a few tens of millions of years. It has a bowl shape, and is surrounded by a blanket of ejecta formed during the original impact. This ejecta has a relatively high albedo
, making the feature appear bright.
In 1866, the experienced lunar observer and mapmaker Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt
made the surprising claim that Linné had changed its appearance. Instead of a normal, somewhat deep crater it had become a mere white patch. A controversy arose that continued for many decades. However, this crater size tests the limit of visual perception of Earth-based telescopes. In conditions of poor seeing this feature can appear to vanish from sighthttp://www.astrosurf.com/lunascan/Linncont.htm (see also transient lunar phenomenon
).
The following craters have been renamed by the IAU
.
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...
located in the western Mare Serenitatis
Mare Serenitatis
Mare Serenitatis is a lunar mare that sits just to the east of Mare Imbrium on the Moon.It is located within the Serenitatis basin, which is of the Nectarian epoch. The material surrounding the mare is of the Lower Imbrian epoch, while the mare material is of the Upper Imbrian epoch...
. The 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...
around this feature is virtually devoid of other features of interest. The nearest named crater is Banting
Banting (crater)
Banting is a small, bowl-shaped lunar impact crater located near the middle of the Mare Serenitatis. The lunar mare in the vicinity is flat and nearly devoid of features of interest....
to the east-southeast.
The estimated age of this crater is only a few tens of millions of years. It has a bowl shape, and is surrounded by a blanket of ejecta formed during the original impact. This ejecta has a relatively high albedo
Albedo
Albedo , or reflection coefficient, is the diffuse reflectivity or reflecting power of a surface. It is defined as the ratio of reflected radiation from the surface to incident radiation upon it...
, making the feature appear bright.
In 1866, the experienced lunar observer and mapmaker Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt
Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt
Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt was a German astronomer and geophysicist.-Biography:...
made the surprising claim that Linné had changed its appearance. Instead of a normal, somewhat deep crater it had become a mere white patch. A controversy arose that continued for many decades. However, this crater size tests the limit of visual perception of Earth-based telescopes. In conditions of poor seeing this feature can appear to vanish from sighthttp://www.astrosurf.com/lunascan/Linncont.htm (see also transient lunar phenomenon
Transient lunar phenomenon
A transient lunar phenomenon , or lunar transient phenomenon , is a short-lived light, color, or change in appearance on the lunar surface....
).
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 Linné.| Linné | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 28.9° N | 14.4° E | 4 km |
| B | 30.5° N | 14.2° E | 5 km |
| D | 28.7° N | 17.1° E | 5 km |
| F | 32.3° N | 13.9° E | 5 km |
| G | 35.9° N | 13.3° E | 5 km |
| H | 33.7° N | 13.8° E | 3 km |
The following craters have been renamed by the IAU
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
.
- Linné E — See Banting (crater)Banting (crater)Banting is a small, bowl-shaped lunar impact crater located near the middle of the Mare Serenitatis. The lunar mare in the vicinity is flat and nearly devoid of features of interest....
.
External links
- LTO-42A4 Linne — L&PI topographic mapTopographic mapA topographic map is a type of map characterized by large-scale detail and quantitative representation of relief, usually using contour lines in modern mapping, but historically using a variety of methods. Traditional definitions require a topographic map to show both natural and man-made features...