Lorentz (crater)
Encyclopedia
Lorentz is a huge lunar
crater
that lies just beyond the northwest limb of the Moon
, in a region that is brought into sight of the Earth
during favorable libration
s. This formation is nearly as large as the Mare Nectaris
on the near side of the Moon, although it has not been submerged by lava
as have the lunar mare
. Sections of the crater floor are, however, relatively level, particularly an arc along the western rim. But this last region is still marked by a number of tiny craterlets. The remainder of the interior is rough and irregular, and marked with a multitude of impacts.
Lorentz contains a prominent crater pairing, with Nernst
located just to the north of Lorentz's mid-point, and Röntgen
attached to the southeastern rim of Nernst. Lying across the southern rim of Lorentz is Laue
, and Avicenna
lies across the northwestern rim. Near the more indeterminate eastern rim of Lorentz is Aston
.
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 lies just beyond 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...
, in a region that is brought into sight of the Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
during favorable 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:...
s. This formation is nearly as large as the Mare Nectaris
Mare Nectaris
The Sea of Nectar is a small lunar mare or sea located between the Sea of Tranquillity and the Sea of Fecundity . Montes Pyrenaeus borders the mare to the west and the large crater near the south center of the mare is known as Rosse...
on the near side of the Moon, although it has not been submerged by lava
Lava
Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
as have 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...
. Sections of the crater floor are, however, relatively level, particularly an arc along the western rim. But this last region is still marked by a number of tiny craterlets. The remainder of the interior is rough and irregular, and marked with a multitude of impacts.
Lorentz contains a prominent crater pairing, with Nernst
Nernst (crater)
Nernst is a lunar impact crater that lies on the far side of the Moon, just beyond the northwestern limb. It lies across the northern part of the larger walled plain Lorentz, and intrudes slightly into the northwestern rim of the crater Röntgen....
located just to the north of Lorentz's mid-point, and 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...
attached to the southeastern rim of Nernst. Lying across the southern rim of Lorentz is Laue
Laue (crater)
Laue is a lunar impact crater that lies across the south-southwestern rim and interior floor of the huge walled plain Lorentz. This feature is located on the Moon's far side, just beyond the west-northwestern limb. This crater also is located to the left of Jake's house...
, and Avicenna
Avicenna (crater)
Avicenna is a lunar crater that lies on the far side of the Moon, just beyond the western limb on the northern rim of the Lorentz basin. It is named after the Persian physician Avicenna. It lies to the north-northwest of the larger crater Nernst, and to the southeast of Bragg.The northern half of...
lies across the northwestern rim. Near the more indeterminate eastern rim of Lorentz is Aston
Aston (crater)
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...
.
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 Lorentz.| Lorentz | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | 31.8° N | 98.5° W | 38 km |
| R | 33.4° N | 99.2° W | 33 km |
| T | 34.6° N | 100.3° W | 20 km |
| U | 35.0° N | 100.0° W | 22 km |