Steinheil (crater)
Encyclopedia
Steinheil is a lunar
impact crater
that is located in the rugged highlands in the southeastern part of the Moon
. It forms a prominent crater pair with the similar-sized Watt
, which it partly overlies to the southeast. To the northwest is the large walled plain Janssen
. Due to the location of this crater, it appears foreshortened when viewed from the Earth
. It is from the Nectarian
period, 3.92 to 3.85 billion years ago.
This is a relatively circular crater that has undergone some light erosion from subsequent impacts. The inner wall is wider along the southwestern rim than elsewhere, and there is a slight outward bulge in the western rim. There are a few tiny craterlets along the rim and inner wall, the most notable being a crater at the base of the inner northeast rim. The interior floor is level, with no central peak and only a few minor craterlets.
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 rugged highlands in the southeastern 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...
. It forms a prominent crater pair with the similar-sized Watt
Watt (crater)
Watt is a lunar crater that is located in the southeastern part of the Moon. The northwestern third of the crater rim has been completely overlain by the same-sized Steinheil, leaving much of the interior floor covered with the outer rampart of ejecta from the latter formation...
, which it partly overlies to the southeast. To the northwest is the large walled plain Janssen
Janssen (lunar crater)
Janssen is an ancient impact crater located in the highland region near the southeastern lunar limb. The entire structure has been heavily worn and is marked by many lesser crater impacts. The outer wall is breached in multiple locations, but the outline of the crater rim can still be observed...
. Due to the location of this crater, it appears 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...
. It is from the Nectarian
Nectarian
The Nectarian Period of the lunar geologic timescale runs from 3920 million years ago to 3850 million years ago. It is the period during which the Nectaris Basin and other major basins were formed by large impact events...
period, 3.92 to 3.85 billion years ago.
This is a relatively circular crater that has undergone some light erosion from subsequent impacts. The inner wall is wider along the southwestern rim than elsewhere, and there is a slight outward bulge in the western rim. There are a few tiny craterlets along the rim and inner wall, the most notable being a crater at the base of the inner northeast rim. The interior floor is level, with no central peak and only a few minor craterlets.
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 Steinheil.| Steinheil | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | 44.9° S | 47.6° E | 16 km |
| F | 45.3° S | 48.4° E | 21 km |
| G | 45.6° S | 49.9° E | 19 km |
| H | 45.7° S | 46.9° E | 20 km |
| K | 48.6° S | 51.9° E | 5 km |
| X | 47.6° S | 45.8° E | 17 km |
| Y | 47.3° S | 45.1° E | 16 km |
| Z | 46.4° S | 45.4° E | 23 km |