Saussure (crater)

Saussure

Coordinates 43°18′S 3°48′W / 43.3°S 3.8°W / -43.3; -3.8Coordinates: 43°18′S 3°48′W / 43.3°S 3.8°W / -43.3; -3.8
Diameter 54 km
Depth 1.8 km
Colongitude 187° at sunrise
Eponym H-B de Saussure

Saussure is a lunar crater. It is located in the crater-riddled terrain in the southern hemisphere of the Moon's near side. Just to the north and nearly attached to the rim is the larger crater Orontius. About a half crater diameter due west is the slightly larger crater Pictet. Just to the east is a curving ridge in the surface, possibly the remains of a crater that has been almost completely overlaid by Saussure.

The outer rim of Saussure is worn but relatively intact, with only the southern edge being somewhat disrupted. A small impact lies across the northeastern rim and a pair of craterlets along the western edge. The inner walls are relatively featureless, and slope down to the generally level interior floor. This bottom surface is marked only by a few tiny craters.

H-B de Saussure was the professor, and later colleague and friend of M-A Pictet.

Satellite craters

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Saussure.

Saussure Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 43.8° S 0.5° W 19 km
B 42.2° S 3.9° W 5 km
C 44.8° S 0.6° W 16 km
Ca 45.2° S 0.5° W 16 km
D 46.9° S 0.2° E 20 km
E 44.7° S 2.1° W 12 km
F 44.3° S 4.6° W 4 km

References

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  • Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6. 
  • Price, Fred W. (1988). The Moon Observer's Handbook. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-33500-3. 
  • Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 978-0-913135-17-4. 
  • Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3. 
  • Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6. 
  • Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 978-1-85233-193-1. 
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