Scoresby (crater)
Encyclopedia
Scoresby is a lunar
impact crater
that is located in the northern part of the Moon
's near side. It is nearly attached to the crater Challis
along the north-northwestern rim, and is located just to the north of the walled plain Meton
. Due to its location, this crater appears highly foreshortened when viewed from the Earth
, appearing elliptical in shape. It is, however, very nearly circular when seen from above.
This formation has a sharp-edged outer wall that has not been significantly worn and is not marked by impacts. It has an outer rampart that extends outwards to nearly half a crater diameter, except where intersected by Challis in the north. The wide inner walls display an appearance of having been terraced, but these have been degraded by a multitude of lesser impacts over time.
Most of the inner floor of Scoresby is level and flat, except in the northeast where it is furrowed by some rough terrain. At the mid-point of the interior is a prominent central peak formation consisting of three mountainous ridges. There is a tiny craterlet just to the west of the central peaks, and a slightly larger craterlet along the northern interior wall.
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 northern 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 is nearly attached to the crater Challis
Challis (crater)
Challis is a lunar crater that is located in the northern regions of the Moon's near side, close enough to the limb to appear significantly foreshortened when viewed from the Earth...
along the north-northwestern rim, and is located just to the north of the walled plain Meton
Meton (crater)
Meton is a compound formation on the Moon that consists of several merged crater rings that have been flooded with lava, forming the remnant of a walled plain in the shape of a clover leaf. It is located near the northern lunar lumb, and is viewed from a low angle and foreshortened. The crater...
. Due to its location, this crater appears highly foreshortened when viewed from 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...
, appearing elliptical in shape. It is, however, very nearly circular when seen from above.
This formation has a sharp-edged outer wall that has not been significantly worn and is not marked by impacts. It has an outer rampart that extends outwards to nearly half a crater diameter, except where intersected by Challis in the north. The wide inner walls display an appearance of having been terraced, but these have been degraded by a multitude of lesser impacts over time.
Most of the inner floor of Scoresby is level and flat, except in the northeast where it is furrowed by some rough terrain. At the mid-point of the interior is a prominent central peak formation consisting of three mountainous ridges. There is a tiny craterlet just to the west of the central peaks, and a slightly larger craterlet along the northern interior wall.
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 Scoresby.| Scoresby | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| K | 76.3° N | 2.9° E | 23 km |
| M | 75.6° N | 8.1° E | 54 km |
| P | 75.8° N | 13.0° E | 26 km |
| Q | 77.4° N | 8.7° E | 40 km |
| W | 74.5° N | 11.2° E | 10 km |