Maclaurin (crater)
Encyclopedia
Maclaurin is a lunar
impact crater
that is located in the eastern part of the Moon
's near side. It lies just to the southeast of the small Mare Spumans
, and to the northeast of the prominent crater Langrenus
. To the east-southeast is Gilbert
.
The rim of this crater is perhaps unusual for the number of lesser craters attached to the exterior. Along the northern rim are the lava
-flooded Maclaurin O and Maclaurin K. There are also satellite craters along the northeastern, eastern, and southern walls. The only open stretches of rim are along the western side, and a brief stretch to the southeast. The three craters along the southern rim, which include Maclaurin A and Maclaurin N, have intruded into the formation sufficiently to compress and slightly flatten that end of the crater. But overall it retains a generally circular form.
The inner walls cut down to a gently descending slope that extends toward the flattened mid-section. The middle portion of the interior floor has been resurfaced, possibly by basalt
ic lava
, leaving a lower albedo
patch with a slightly darkened hue. At the mid-point of the crater interior is a low central ridge.
The following craters have been renamed by the IAU
.
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...
impact 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...
's near side. It lies just to the southeast of the small Mare Spumans
Mare Spumans
Mare Spumans is a lunar mare located just south of Mare Undarum on the lunar near side. It is one of the many elevated lakes contained in the Crisium basin, surrounding Mare Crisium. The surrounding basin material is of the Nectarian epoch, while the mare basalt being of the Upper Imbrian epoch...
, and to the northeast of the prominent crater Langrenus
Langrenus (crater)
Langrenus is a prominent impact crater located near the eastern lunar limb. The feature is circular in shape, but appears oblong due to foreshortening. It lies on the eastern shore of the Mare Fecunditatis...
. To the east-southeast is Gilbert
Gilbert (lunar crater)
Gilbert is a large lunar crater that lies near the eastern limb of the Moon. Due to its location this feature appears foreshortened when viewed from the Earth, limiting the amount of detail that can be observed...
.
The rim of this crater is perhaps unusual for the number of lesser craters attached to the exterior. Along the northern rim are the 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...
-flooded Maclaurin O and Maclaurin K. There are also satellite craters along the northeastern, eastern, and southern walls. The only open stretches of rim are along the western side, and a brief stretch to the southeast. The three craters along the southern rim, which include Maclaurin A and Maclaurin N, have intruded into the formation sufficiently to compress and slightly flatten that end of the crater. But overall it retains a generally circular form.
The inner walls cut down to a gently descending slope that extends toward the flattened mid-section. The middle portion of the interior floor has been resurfaced, possibly by basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
ic 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...
, leaving a lower 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...
patch with a slightly darkened hue. At the mid-point of the crater interior is a low central ridge.
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 Maclaurin.| Maclaurin | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3.0° S | 67.6° E | 29 km |
| B | 3.6° S | 71.4° E | 43 km |
| C | 1.1° S | 69.6° E | 26 km |
| D | 7.1° S | 69.9° E | 10 km |
| E | 3.5° S | 65.7° E | 20 km |
| G | 7.0° S | 66.9° E | 12 km |
| H | 1.6° S | 64.1° E | 41 km |
| J | 2.2° S | 69.4° E | 16 km |
| K | 0.9° S | 66.9° E | 34 km |
| L | 1.4° S | 71.7° E | 30 km |
| M | 4.8° S | 69.4° E | 42 km |
| N | 3.8° S | 68.4° E | 29 km |
| O | 0.3° S | 67.9° E | 37 km |
| P | 6.0° S | 69.4° E | 29 km |
| T | 1.8° S | 65.4° E | 35 km |
| U | 3.9° S | 66.2° E | 19 km |
| W | 0.5° N | 68.1° E | 21 km |
| X | 0.1° S | 68.7° E | 24 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...
.
- Maclaurin F — See Von BehringVon Behring (crater)von Behring is a small lunar impact crater that is located in the eastern part of the Moon. It lies within two crater diameters north-northeast of the larger Kapteyn, and is to the northwest of La Pérouse. This crater is circular and symmetrical, with an outer rim that is only lightly eroded. There...
- Maclaurin R — See MorleyMorley (crater)Morley is a small lunar impact crater that is located in the eastern part of the Moon's near side, to the east of the Mare Fecunditatis. It was formerly a satellite crater of Maclaurin, being designated Maclaurin R, before being given its current name by the IAU...
- Maclaurin S — See HargreavesHargreaves (crater)Hargreaves is a lunar crater that lies in the eastern part of the Moon, to the east of the Mare Fecunditatis. It is located to the west of the crater Maclaurin, and was previously designated Maclaurin S before being given a name by the IAU...
- Maclaurin Y — See BornBorn (crater)Born is a small lunar impact crater located near the eastern edge of the Moon, to the northeast of the prominent crater Langrenus. It was previously designated Maclaurin Y before being named by the IAU. Maclaurin itself lies to the north....