Russell (lunar crater)
Encyclopedia
Russell is the lava
-flooded remains of a lunar impact crater
. It is located in the western part of the Oceanus Procellarum
, close to the western lunar limb. As a result it appears oblong-shaped due to foreshortening.
The south-southwestern rim of Russell overlaps the larger rim of the lava-flooded crater Struve
, and together the two crater rims form a figure-8 outline with a wide gap where they are joined. To the east of Russell is Briggs
, and to the southeast, adjacent to Struve
, is the lava-flooded remains of a crater called Eddington
.
The rim of Russell is heavily worn and irregular in form, with multiple crater impacts overlying the wall. The largest of these is Briggs A on the eastern rim. To the north of Russell are the flooded remnants of several smaller craters. Russell's lava-flooded floor is flat and level with the surrounding mare
. It lacks a central peak.
In the past this crater was sometimes designated as Otto Struve A, or just assumed to be part of the larger Struve. The crater Eddington to the southeast has also been designated as Otto Struve A on old lunar maps.
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 remains of a lunar 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...
. It is located in the western part of the Oceanus Procellarum
Oceanus Procellarum
Oceanus Procellarum is a vast lunar mare on the western edge of the near side of the Earth's Moon. Its name derives from the old superstition that its appearance during the second quarter heralded bad weather...
, close to the western lunar limb. As a result it appears oblong-shaped due to foreshortening.
The south-southwestern rim of Russell overlaps the larger rim of the lava-flooded crater Struve
Struve (crater)
Struve is the lava-flooded remains of a lunar impact crater. It is located near the western extreme of the Oceanus Procellarum, close to the western lunar limb...
, and together the two crater rims form a figure-8 outline with a wide gap where they are joined. To the east of Russell is Briggs
Briggs (crater)
Briggs is a lunar crater that is located in the western part of the Oceanus Procellarum, to the east of the large walled plain Struve. It lies to the northeast of the walled plain Eddington, and north-northwest of the crater Seleucus. The isolated position of this crater on the mare, near the...
, and to the southeast, adjacent to Struve
Struve (crater)
Struve is the lava-flooded remains of a lunar impact crater. It is located near the western extreme of the Oceanus Procellarum, close to the western lunar limb...
, is the lava-flooded remains of a crater called Eddington
Eddington (crater)
Eddington is the lava-flooded remnant of a lunar impact crater, located on the western part of Oceanus Procellarum. The western rim is attached to the wall of the walled plain Struve. To the east-southeast is the smaller but prominent crater Seleucus...
.
The rim of Russell is heavily worn and irregular in form, with multiple crater impacts overlying the wall. The largest of these is Briggs A on the eastern rim. To the north of Russell are the flooded remnants of several smaller craters. Russell's lava-flooded floor is flat and level with the surrounding 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...
. It lacks a central peak.
In the past this crater was sometimes designated as Otto Struve A, or just assumed to be part of the larger Struve. The crater Eddington to the southeast has also been designated as Otto Struve A on old lunar maps.
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 Russell.| Russell | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 26.4° N | 78.2° W | 19 km |
| E | 28.6° N | 74.5° W | 9 km |
| F | 28.0° N | 76.4° W | 9 km |
| R | 28.7° N | 75.3° W | 45 km |
| S | 29.4° N | 77.1° W | 25 km |