Keeler (lunar crater)

Keeler

Coordinates 10°12′S 161°54′E / 10.2°S 161.9°E / -10.2; 161.9Coordinates: 10°12′S 161°54′E / 10.2°S 161.9°E / -10.2; 161.9
Diameter 160 km
Depth Unknown
Colongitude 200° at sunrise
Eponym James E. Keeler

Keeler is a large lunar crater that lies on the Moon's far side. It is connected along the eastern edge to Heaviside, a walled plain of similar dimensions. Keeler, however, is the younger of the two formations, with more clearly delineated features. To the northeast of Keeler is the smaller crater Stratton, and to the northwest lies Ventris.

Oblique photo of Keeler from Apollo 10

The outer rim of Keeler is roughly circular, with a straight segment where it is joined to Heaviside. The northern portion of the rim is more irregular, with an outward protuberance to the north-northwest. Portions of the inner wall have a terrace structure, especially along the southern half. Within the crater interior, Planté lies on the eastern floor, adjacent to the inner wall. There is an interior ridge that runs from about the midpoint toward the west-southwest. The floor is generally level, with some areas of irregularity to the south. A few small and tiny craterlets mark the interior plain.

Measurements with the electron reflectometer instrument on board the Lunar Prospector showed that this crater is one of a number of impact sites that show demagnetization. The low magnetic reading lies at the center of this crater, and the reduced field extends outward to about one and a half crater diameters. Scientists believe that shock demagnitization is the cause.[1]

Prior to naming, Keeler was called Crater 302 by the IAU.[2]

Satellite craters

Oblique photo of Keeler from Apollo 13, with low sun angle (at the terminator)
The central peak from Apollo 11. The highest peak is approximately 3.5 km above the crater floor.

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

Keeler Latitude Longitude Diameter
L 13.3° S 163.2° E 71 km
S 11.4° S 158.0° E 30 km
U 9.1° S 156.9° E 29 km
V 8.9° S 158.3° E 53 km

References

  1. ↑ Halekas, J. S.; Mitchell, D. L.; Lin, R. P.; Frey, S.; Hood, L. L.; Acuna, M. H.; Binder, A. B. (May 2001). "Demagnetization Signatures of Lunar Impact Craters" (PDF). American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2001, abstract #GP22A-11. Bibcode:2001AGUSM..GP22A11H. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
  2. ↑ Lunar Landmark Locations - Apollo 8, 10, 11, and 12 Missions. NASA technical note D-6082. Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas. November 1970. Figure 4.

Other sources

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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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