Werner (crater)
Encyclopedia
Werner is a prominent lunar
impact crater
that lies in the rugged south-central highlands of the Moon
. It is almost joined with the crater Aliacensis
to the southeast, and the pair form a rugged valley in the intervening gap. Due west of Werner is the distorted Regiomontanus
, and to the north is the remains of Blanchinus
. It is from the Eratosthenian
period, which lasted from 3.2 to 1.1 billion years ago. The crater is named after the 15th-century German mathematician and astronomer Johannes Werner
.
The rim of Werner shows little appearance of wear, and is much younger and less eroded than the other large craters in the surroundings. The interior wall is terraced, and there is a noticeable rampart on the exterior. There are several low rises on the crater floor and a notable central peak. Its highly terraced walls attain peaks of almost 1,500 feet. The crater is 45 miles (70 kilometers) in diameter, and the difference in height between its rim and its deepest parts is 4.2 kilometers.
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 lies in the rugged south-central highlands 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 almost joined with the crater Aliacensis
Aliacensis (crater)
Aliacensis is a lunar impact crater that is located in the rugged southern highlands of the Moon. The crater Werner is located just to the north-northwest, and a narrow, rugged valley lies between the two comparably sized formations. To the southwest is Walther, and Apianus is to the northeast. The...
to the southeast, and the pair form a rugged valley in the intervening gap. Due west of Werner is the distorted Regiomontanus
Regiomontanus (crater)
Regiomontanus is an ancient lunar impact crater located in the southern highlands region to the southeast of Mare Nubium. It is joined at the chaotic northern rim by the crater Purbach, and to the south-southeast is Walther....
, and to the north is the remains of Blanchinus
Blanchinus (crater)
Blanchinus is a lunar crater that is situated in the rugged south-central highlands of the Moon. Adjacent to the south of Blanchinus is the crater Werner, and La Caille is attached to the northwest rim...
. It is from the Eratosthenian
Eratosthenian
The Eratosthenian period in the lunar geologic timescale runs from 3,200 million years ago to 1,100 million years ago. It is named after the crater Eratosthenes, whose formation marks the beginning of this period. The formation of the crater Copernicus marks its end, and the beginning of the...
period, which lasted from 3.2 to 1.1 billion years ago. The crater is named after the 15th-century German mathematician and astronomer Johannes Werner
Johannes Werner
Johann Werner was a German parish priest in Nuremberg and a mathematician...
.
The rim of Werner shows little appearance of wear, and is much younger and less eroded than the other large craters in the surroundings. The interior wall is terraced, and there is a noticeable rampart on the exterior. There are several low rises on the crater floor and a notable central peak. Its highly terraced walls attain peaks of almost 1,500 feet. The crater is 45 miles (70 kilometers) in diameter, and the difference in height between its rim and its deepest parts is 4.2 kilometers.
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 Werner.| Werner | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 27.2° S | 1.1° E | 15 km |
| B | 26.2° S | 0.7° E | 13 km |
| D | 27.1° S | 3.2° E | 2 km |
| E | 27.4° S | 0.8° E | 7 km |
| F | 25.8° S | 0.8° E | 10 km |
| G | 27.6° S | 1.3° E | 9 km |
| H | 26.6° S | 1.5° E | 16 km |