Piccolomini (crater)

Piccolomini
LRO image
Coordinates29°42′S 32°18′E / 29.7°S 32.3°E / -29.7; 32.3
Diameter88 km
Depth4.5 km
Colongitude328° at sunrise
EponymAlessandro Piccolomini

Piccolomini is a prominent lunar impact crater located in the southeastern sector of the Moon. The crater is named after 16th century Italian Archbishop and astronomer Alessandro Piccolomini.[1][2] The crater Rothmann lies to the west-southwest, and to the south is Stiborius. The lengthy Rupes Altai begins at the western rim of Piccolomini, curving to the northwest. It is 88 kilometers in diameter and 4,500 meters deep. It is from the Upper Imbrian period, 3.8 to 3.2 billion years ago.[3]

Lunar Orbiter 4 image, North on the photo is nearly on the right end of the smaller crater on top of the photo

The crater rim has not been severely worn by crater impacts, and the inner wall possesses wide terraces. These structures have been somewhat smoothed by landslips and erosion, most likely induced by seismic activity. An influx of material has entered across the northern rim, flowing down toward the base. The crater floor is relatively smooth, with only minor hills and impact craters. In the middle is a complex central peak surrounded by lesser mounts. The main peak rises to a height of 2.0 kilometers above the surrounding floor.[4][5]

  1. ^ "Piccolomini (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. ^ Autostar Suite Astronomer Edition. CD-ROM. Meade, April 2006.
  3. ^ The geologic history of the Moon. USGS Professional Paper 1348. By Don E. Wilhelms, John F. McCauley, and Newell J. Trask. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington: 1987. Table 11.2.
  4. ^ Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 0-913135-17-8.
  5. ^ Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co.. ISBN 0-304-35469-4.