Kies (crater)

Kies
Lunar Orbiter 4 image
(Dark triangle at upper rim is blemish on original photo)
Coordinates26°18′S 22°30′W / 26.3°S 22.5°W / -26.3; -22.5
Diameter44 km
Depth0.4 km
Colongitude327° at sunrise
EponymJohann Kies[1]
Altered Rectified Proiection (ARP) Selenochromatic Image (Si) of the Mare Humorum area holding some selenochromatic landmarks. Kies at the top right
LRO image of Kies and Kies Pi (lower left), a small lunar dome
Oblique view from Apollo 16

Kies is the remnant of a lunar impact crater that has been flooded by basaltic lava, leaving only a remnant of the outer rim. It was named after German mathematician and astronomer Johann Kies.[1] It is located in the Mare Nubium almost due south of the crater Bullialdus. Northwest of Kies is König. To the south-southwest lies a lunar dome structure designated Kies Pi (π). It has a small crater at the top and is most likely volcanic in origin.

The rim of Kies has numerous gaps and forms a series of ridges in a ring-shaped formation. The most intact rim structures lie in the south and northeast sections of the wall. A low promontory ridge is attached to the southern end of the rim, pointing southwards.

Rays from Tycho crater, located far to the southeast, cross Kies and the surrounding mare.

  1. ^ a b Kies, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN)