Van Albada (crater)
Encyclopedia
van Albada is a lunar
crater
that is attached to the south-southeastern rim of Auzout
. It lies southeast of Mare Crisium
, and north-northeast of the larger crater Firmicus
. Directly to the east is Krogh
.
While the perimeter of van Albada is generally circular, there is a slight outward bulge in the rim to the northwest, and a smaller crater lies across the eastern rim. The inner wall is slightly larger to the north than elsewhere, most likely because it abuts the outer rampart of Auzout. The interior floor is darker in hue than the surrounding terrain, with an albedo
that matches the lunar mare
to the northwest.
This crater was previously designated Auzout A before being given a name 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...
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 attached to the south-southeastern rim of Auzout
Auzout (crater)
Auzout is a lunar impact crater that is located to the southeast of the Mare Crisium, near the eastern limb of the Moon. Due to foreshortening this crater appears quite oval, but is actually relatively circular in form. Attached to the southern rim is the smaller crater van Albada. To the...
. It lies southeast of Mare Crisium
Mare Crisium
Mare Crisium is a lunar mare located in the Moon's Crisium basin, just northeast of Mare Tranquillitatis. This basin is of the Pre-Imbrian period, 4.55 to 3.85 billion years ago. This mare is in diameter, and 176,000 km2 in area. It has a very flat floor, with a ring of wrinkled ridges...
, and north-northeast of the larger crater Firmicus
Firmicus (crater)
Firmicus is a lunar crater that lies in the eastern part of the Moon's near side, so that from Earth it appears oval in shape due to foreshortening. It is, however, very nearly circular. The crater is located to the west of the Mare Undarum, and northeast of the similar-sized crater Apollonius. To...
. Directly to the east is Krogh
Krogh (crater)
Krogh is a small lunar impact crater that is located in the eastern part of the Moon, to the southeast of the crater Auzout. This crater was previously designated Auzout B before being given a name by the IAU. The crater is roughly circular and bowl-shaped, with an inner wall that is wider in the...
.
While the perimeter of van Albada is generally circular, there is a slight outward bulge in the rim to the northwest, and a smaller crater lies across the eastern rim. The inner wall is slightly larger to the north than elsewhere, most likely because it abuts the outer rampart of Auzout. The interior floor is darker in hue than the surrounding terrain, with an 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...
that matches the lunar 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...
to the northwest.
This crater was previously designated Auzout A before being given a name 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...
.