Hertzsprung (crater)

Hertzsprung
LRO WAC mosaic
Coordinates1°22′N 128°40′W / 1.37°N 128.66°W / 1.37; -128.66
Diameter570 km (350 mi)[1]
DepthUnknown
Colongitude140° at sunrise
EponymEjnar Hertzsprung

Hertzsprung is an enormous lunar impact crater, or impact basin, that is located on the far side of the Moon, beyond the western limb. In dimension, this formation is larger than several of the lunar mare areas on the near side. It lies in the northwestern fringe of the blast radius of the Mare Orientale impact basin. Nearby craters of note include Michelson across the northeast rim, Vavilov across the western rim, and Lucretius to the southeast.

Hertzsprung is a basin of Nectarian age.[2]

The outer rim of Hertzsprung has been damaged and modified by several notable impacts (mentioned above) and a number of smaller craters. A chain of small craters, designated Catena Lucretius, begins at the southeastern outer rim and proceeds toward the west-northwest until it connects with the perimeter of the inner basin. This inner area is less rough than the outer ring of the floor, and is surrounded by a circular range of ridges. The inner perimeter is also pierced by several craters, including Hertzsprung D along the eastern portion and Hertzsprung S on the western side. Nor is the interior of the inner basin free from impacts, including K, H, X, and L, listed in the table below.

At the center of the basin is a mass concentration (mascon), or gravitational high. The mascon was first identified by Doppler tracking of the Lunar Prospector spacecraft.[3]

The equator of the Moon passes through this formation, being located to the south of the midpoint and cutting through the central basin.

  • Topographic map
    Topographic map
  • Gravity map based on GRAIL
    Gravity map based on GRAIL
  • Oblique Lunar Orbiter 5 image
    Oblique Lunar Orbiter 5 image
  • Another view from Lunar Orbiter 5
    Another view from Lunar Orbiter 5
  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Stockstill_1998 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ 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 9-3.
  3. ^ A. S. Konopliv; A. B. Binder; L. L. Hood; A. B. Kucinskas; W. L. Sjogren & J. G. Williams (1998). "Improved Gravity Field of the Moon from Lunar Prospector". Science. 281 (5382): 1476–1480. Bibcode:1998Sci...281.1476K. doi:10.1126/science.281.5382.1476. PMID 9727968.