Patsaev

Patsaev
Patsaev (upper left of center) with Patsaev Q (below left of Patsaev) and Patsaev K (lower right), on the far side of the moon. The rim of Tsiolkovskiy is in lower left corner. (Apollo 15 Mapping Camera image)
Coordinates16°46′S 133°36′E / 16.77°S 133.60°E / -16.77; 133.60
Diameter55.25 km (34.33 mi)[1]
Depth3.8 km (2.4 mi)[2]
Colongitude227° at sunrise
EponymViktor I. Patsayev

Patsaev is a lunar impact crater that lies on the far side of the Moon, to the northeast of the prominent crater Tsiolkovskiy. To the northwest is the smaller crater Lander.

This is a heavily damaged crater that now appears as little more than an irregular depression in the surface. Both the outer rim and interior floor are streaked by jumbled ridges of material that are radial to Tsiolkovskiy. Most likely this is ejecta deposited during Tsiolkovskiy's formation.

It was named in 1973 by the IAU after cosmonaut Viktor Patsayev who died in the Soyuz 11 mission.[1]

  1. ^ a b Patsaev, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN)
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference LTO102A1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).