Mechnikov (crater)
Encyclopedia
Mechnikov is an impact crater
on the far side of the Moon
. It is located just to the northeast of the much larger walled plain Galois
, being separated by a stretch of irregular terrain about 20–30 km in width.
This is a roughly circular crater that has undergone a moderate amount of impact erosion, but is still relatively intact. Attached to the exterior along the northeast are the satellite craters Mechnikov C and Mechnikov D. There is a small crater in the western part of Mechnikov's interior floor.
A small crater along the northeast rim of Galois has a small ray system
. Ray material from this crater crosses the interior of Mechnikov in a series of streaks that are radial to the impact, producing a fan-like appearance.
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...
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...
. It is located just to the northeast of the much larger walled plain Galois
Galois (crater)
Galois is a large lunar crater on the far side of the Moon. Features of this class are commonly termed walled plains, due to their appearance and dimension. It is located just to the southeast of another huge walled plain, Korolev, a formation nearly double the diameter of Galois...
, being separated by a stretch of irregular terrain about 20–30 km in width.
This is a roughly circular crater that has undergone a moderate amount of impact erosion, but is still relatively intact. Attached to the exterior along the northeast are the satellite craters Mechnikov C and Mechnikov D. There is a small crater in the western part of Mechnikov's interior floor.
A small crater along the northeast rim of Galois has a small ray system
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...
. Ray material from this crater crosses the interior of Mechnikov in a series of streaks that are radial to the impact, producing a fan-like appearance.
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 Mechnikov.| Mechnikov | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 9.9° S | 148.0° W | 35 km |
| D | 10.2° S | 147.2° W | 53 km |
| F | 11.3° S | 145.0° W | 30 km |
| G | 11.8° S | 146.6° W | 17 km |
| U | 10.6° S | 150.9° W | 30 km |
| Z | 9.3° S | 149.2° W | 21 km |