Poincaré (crater)

Poincaré

Clementine mosaic
Coordinates 56°42′S 163°36′E / 56.7°S 163.6°E / -56.7; 163.6Coordinates: 56°42′S 163°36′E / 56.7°S 163.6°E / -56.7; 163.6
Diameter 319 km
Depth Unknown
Colongitude 207° at sunrise
Eponym Henri Poincaré
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 2 view, facing south
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 5 view, facing west

Poincaré is a large lunar impact basin that lies in the southern hemisphere on the far side of the Moon. Most of the formation has been heavily eroded by subsequent impacts, leaving a battered formation with only rugged remnants of the original outer rim to the west.

The eastern half has been completely worn away, and much of the interior has been resurfaced by lava flows. This surface has a lower albedo than the surrounding terrain, giving it a dark appearance. A rugged formation forms a low north-south range across the eastern section of the floor, possibly the remnant of an inner ring.

The perimeter of Poincaré has several notable craters. To the north is the crater Hopmann, while the craters Abbe and Hess lie to the east. Directly to the west is Planck, a walled plain of similar dimensions to Poincaré. Both formations are sufficiently large to have formed a small lunar mare on the near side face of the Moon.

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 Poincaré.

Poincaré Latitude Longitude Diameter
C 54.4° S 169.0° E 20 km
E 56.6° S 171.1° E 60 km
F 57.9° S 168.6° E 95 km
J 59.4° S 168.7° E 20 km
Q 59.3° S 160.9° E 26 km
R 60.2° S 155.0° E 52 km
X 53.8° S 161.9° E 19 km
Z 53.7° S 164.9° E 35 km

References

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  • 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. 
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