Magelhaens (lunar crater)

For the crater on Mars, see Magelhaens (Martian crater).
Magelhaens
Lunar Orbiter 4 image of Magelhaens (upper left) and Magelhaens A (lower right)
Coordinates11°54′S 44°06′E / 11.9°S 44.1°E / -11.9; 44.1
Diameter41 km
Depth2.0 km
Colongitude316° at sunrise
EponymFerdinand Magellan
Oblique view facing south from Apollo 16
Magelhaens is just above center in this image taken by the crew of Apollo 8. Magelhaens A is left of center, and Goclenius is in foreground. NASA photo.

Magelhaens is a lunar impact crater that lies along the southwestern edge of the Mare Fecunditatis, in the eastern part of the Moon's near side. It was named after 16th-century Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.[1] It lies to the south-southwest of the crater Goclenius, about midway between Gutenberg to the northwest and Colombo to the southeast.

This crater has a somewhat slender and uneven outer rim that is only roughly circular. The slightly smaller satellite crater Magelhaens A is attached to the southeastern rim. Within the inner walls of Magelhaens, the interior floor has been resurfaced by basaltic lava, matching the same dark appearance as the lunar mare to the northeast. This floor is level and almost featureless.

  1. ^ "Magelhaens (lunar crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.