Maunder (lunar crater)

Maunder
LRO WAC image
Coordinates14°31′S 93°53′W / 14.52°S 93.88°W / -14.52; -93.88
Diameter53.80 km
Depth4 km
Colongitude94° at sunrise
EponymAnnie S. D. Maunder
Edward W. Maunder
Lunar Orbiter 4 image

Maunder is a lunar impact crater that is located on the far side of the Moon, just beyond the western limb. This region is sometimes brought into view during favorable librations, but not much detail can be seen. The crater lies at the northern end of the Mare Orientale, within the ring of mountains named Montes Rook, and it is the largest crater on this lunar mare. To the southeast is the crater Kopff, and due south is the small Hohmann.

The rim of Maunder is roughly circular, with a sharp edge that has not been significantly eroded. The inner walls are somewhat terraced, and slump down to a rough but level interior floor. At the midpoint of the crater is a double central peak, with the northeastern peak being the larger of the two. Surrounding the crater is a rough outer rampart that mixes with the rugged terrain along the northern half of the rim. Secondary impacts are visible in the surface to the south.

Maunder is a crater of Eratosthenian age.[1]

  1. ^ 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 12.2.