List of lunar features
Valleys
The Moon's surface is covered in many interesting features. Among these are several large valleys that have been given names. These are listed below.
Most of these valleys are named after a nearby crater; see the list of craters on the Moon for more information.
Water features
This is a list of maria (singular mare) on the Moon. Lunar Maria are the large, dark, regions of the moon. They do not actually contain any water, however they are believed to have been formed from molten rock from the moon's mantle coming out onto the surface of the moon. It also includes the one oceanus and the features known by the names lacus, palus and sinus. The modern system of lunar nomenclature was introduced in 1651 by Riccioli.[1] Riccioli's map of the moon was drawn by Francesco Maria Grimaldi, who has a crater named after him.
Maria and Oceanus
Mare Anguis | Serpent Sea | 22.6° N | 67.7° E | 150 km |
Mare Australe | Southern Sea | 38.9° S | 93.0° E | 603 km |
Mare Cognitum | Sea that has become known | 10.0° S | 23.1° W | 376 km |
Mare Crisium | Sea of Crisis | 17.0° N | 59.1° E | 418 km |
Mare Fecunditatis | Sea of Fecundity | 7.8° S | 51.3° E | 909 km |
Mare Frigoris | Sea of Cold | 56.0° N | 1.4° E | 1596 km |
Mare Humboldtianum | Sea of Alexander von Humboldt | 56.8° N | 81.5° E | 273 km |
Mare Humorum | Sea of Moisture | 24.4° S | 38.6° W | 389 km |
Mare Imbrium[2] | Sea of Showers | 32.8° N | 15.6° W | 1123 km |
Mare Ingenii | Sea of Cleverness | 33.7° S | 163.5° E | 318 km |
Mare Insularum | Sea of Islands | 7.5° N | 30.9° W | 513 km |
Mare Marginis | Sea of the Edge | 13.3° N | 86.1° E | 420 km |
Mare Moscoviense | Sea of Muscovy | 27.3° N | 147.9° E | 277 km |
Mare Nectaris | Sea of Nectar | 15.2° S | 35.5° E | 333 km |
Mare Nubium | Sea of Clouds | 21.3° S | 16.6° W | 715 km |
Mare Orientale | Eastern Sea | 19.4° S | 92.8° W | 327 km |
Mare Serenitatis | Sea of Serenity | 28.0° N | 17.5° E | 707 km |
Mare Smythii | Sea of William Henry Smyth | 1.3° N | 87.5° E | 373 km |
Mare Spumans | Foaming Sea | 1.1° N | 65.1° E | 139 km |
Mare Tranquillitatis | Sea of Tranquility | 8.5° N | 31.4° E | 873 km |
Mare Undarum | Sea of Waves | 6.8° N | 68.4° E | 243 km |
Mare Vaporum | Sea of Vapors | 13.3° N | 3.6° E | 245 km |
Oceanus Procellarum | Ocean of Storms | 18.4° N | 57.4° W | 2568 km |
There was also a region on the Lunar farside that was briefly misidentified as a mare and named Mare Desiderii (Sea of Dreams). It is no longer recognized. Other former maria include:
- Mare Parvum[3] ("Small Sea"), immediately to the east of Inghirami
- Mare Incognitum ("Unknown Sea")
- Mare Novum[3] ("New Sea"), northeast of Plutarch
- Mare Struve ("Struve's Sea"), near Messala
Lacus
A related set of features are the Lunar lacus (singular lacus, Latin for "lake"), which are smaller basaltic plains of similar origin:
Latin Name | English Name | Lat. | Long. | Diameter |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lacus Aestatis | Lake of Summer | 15.0° S | 69.0° W | 90 km |
Lacus Autumni | Lake of Autumn | 9.9° S | 83.9° W | 183 km |
Lacus Bonitatis | Lake of Goodness | 23.2° N | 43.7° E | 92 km |
Lacus Doloris | Lake of Sorrow | 17.1° N | 9.0° E | 110 km |
Lacus Excellentiae | Lake of Excellence | 35.4° S | 44.0° W | 184 km |
Lacus Felicitatis | Lake of Happiness | 19.0° N | 5.0° E | 90 km |
Lacus Gaudii | Lake of Joy | 16.2° N | 12.6° E | 113 km |
Lacus Hiemalis | Lake of Winter | 15.0° N | 14.0° E | 50 km |
Lacus Lenitatis | Lake of Softness | 14.0° N | 12.0° E | 80 km |
Lacus Luxuriae | Lake of Luxury | 19.0° N | 176.0° E | 50 km |
Lacus Mortis | Lake of Death | 45.0° N | 27.2° E | 151 km |
Lacus Oblivionis | Lake of Forgetfulness | 21.0° S | 168.0° W | 50 km |
Lacus Odii | Lake of Hatred | 19.0° N | 7.0° E | 70 km |
Lacus Perseverantiae | Lake of Perseverance | 8.0° N | 62.0° E | 70 km |
Lacus Solitudinis | Lake of Solitude | 27.8° S | 104.3° E | 139 km |
Lacus Somniorum | Lake of Dreams | 38.0° N | 29.2° E | 384 km |
Lacus Spei | Lake of Hope | 43.0° N | 65.0° E | 80 km |
Lacus Temporis | Lake of Time | 45.9° N | 58.4° E | 117 km |
Lacus Timoris | Lake of Fear | 38.8° S | 27.3° W | 117 km |
Lacus Veris | Lake of Spring | 16.5° S | 86.1° W | 396 km |
Sinus and Paludes
A related set of features are the sinus (singular sinus, Latin for "bay") and paludes (singular palus, Latin for "marsh"):
Latin Name | English Name | Lat. | Long. | Diameter |
---|---|---|---|---|
Palus Epidemiarum | Marsh of Epidemics | 32.0° S | 28.2° W | 286 km |
Palus Putredinis | Marsh of Decay | 26.5° N | 0.4° E | 161 km |
Palus Somni | Marsh of Sleep | 14.1° N | 45.0° E | 143 km |
Sinus Aestuum | Seething Bay | 10.9° N | 8.8° W | 290 km |
Sinus Amoris | Bay of Love | 18.1° N | 39.1° E | 130 km |
Sinus Asperitatis | Bay of Roughness | 3.8° S | 27.4° E | 206 km |
Sinus Concordiae | Bay of Harmony | 10.8° N | 43.2° E | 142 km |
Sinus Fidei | Bay of Trust | 18.0° N | 2.0° E | 70 km |
Sinus Honoris | Bay of Honor | 11.7° N | 18.1° E | 109 km |
Sinus Iridum | Bay of Rainbows | 44.1° N | 31.5° W | 236 km |
Sinus Lunicus | Lunik Bay | 31.8° N | 1.4° W | 126 km |
Sinus Medii | Bay of the center | 2.4° N | 1.7° E | 335 km |
Sinus Roris | Bay of Dew | 54.0° N | 56.6° W | 202 km |
Sinus Successus | Bay of Success | 0.9° N | 59.0° E | 132 km |
Some sources also list a Palus Nebularum ("Marsh of Mists") at 38.0° N, 1.0° E. However the designation for this feature has not been officially recognized by the IAU.
Mountains
These are isolated mountains or massifs.
Note that the heights listed below are not consistent across sources. In the 1960s, the US Army Mapping Service used elevation relative to 1,737,988 meters from the center of the Moon. In the 1970s, the US Defense Mapping Agency used 1,730,000 meters. The Clementine topographic data published in the 1990s uses 1,737,400 meters.
Also note that this table is not comprehensive, and does not list the highest places on the Moon. Clementine data show a range of about 18,100 meters from lowest to highest point on the Moon. The highest point, located on the far side of the Moon, is approximately 6500 meters higher than Mons Huygens (usually listed as the tallest mountain).
Mountain ranges
Other features
The Moon's surface is covered in many interesting geological features. In addition to mountains, valleys, and craters, the following surface features have received names in the Lunar nomenclature. Many of these features are named after a nearby crater or mountain.
The listed diameter for these features is the longest dimension that contains the entire geological formation. The latitude and longitude are in selenographic coordinates.
Albedo
These features are notable for their high albedo compared to the surrounding terrain.
Name | Coordinates | Diameter | Name Origin |
---|---|---|---|
Reiner Gamma | 7°30′N 59°00′W / 7.5°N 59.0°W | 70.0 km | After nearby crater Reiner |
Note: On the far side of the Moon there are unnamed albedo features on Mare Ingenii and Mare Marginis. These are located antipodal to the Mare Imbrium and Mare Orientale impact basins.
Catena
A catena is a chain of craters.
Dorsa
These features are wrinkle-ridge systems commonly found on lunar maria.
Dorsum
These features are wrinkle ridges commonly found on lunar mare
Promontorium
These features form a cape or headland on a mare.
Name | Coordinates | Dia. | Name Origin |
---|---|---|---|
Promontorium Agarum | 14°00′N 66°00′E / 14.0°N 66.0°E | 70 km | Named from a cape in the Sea of Azov |
Promontorium Agassiz | 42°00′N 1°48′E / 42.0°N 1.8°E | 20 km | Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz (1807–1873) |
Promontorium Archerusia | 16°42′N 22°00′E / 16.7°N 22.0°E | 10 km | Named from a cape on the Black Sea |
Promontorium Deville | 43°12′N 1°00′E / 43.2°N 1.0°E | 20 km | Charles Joseph Sainte-Claire Deville (1814–1876) |
Promontorium Fresnel | 29°00′N 4°42′E / 29.0°N 4.7°E | 20 km | Augustin Jean Fresnel (1788–1827) |
Promontorium Heraclides | 40°18′N 33°12′W / 40.3°N 33.2°W | 50 km | Heraclides Ponticus |
Promontorium Kelvin | 27°00′S 33°00′W / 27.0°S 33.0°W | 50 km | William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin (1824–1907) |
Promontorium Laplace | 46°00′N 25°48′W / 46.0°N 25.8°W | 50 km | Pierre Simon Laplace (1749–1827) |
Promontorium Taenarium | 19°00′S 8°00′W / 19.0°S 8.0°W | 70 km | Named from cape in Greece[5] |
Rima
These features are lunar rilles.
Name | Coordinates | Dia. | Name Origin |
---|---|---|---|
Rima Agatharchides | 20°00′S 28°00′W / 20.0°S 28.0°W | 50 km | Named from nearby crater Agatharchides |
Rima Agricola | 29°00′N 53°00′W / 29.0°N 53.0°W | 110 km | Named from nearby Montes Agricola |
Rima Archytas | 53°00′S 3°00′E / 53.0°S 3.0°E | 90 km | Named from nearby crater Archytas |
Rima Ariadaeus | 6°24′N 14°00′E / 6.4°N 14.0°E | 250 km | Named from nearby crater Ariadaeus |
Rima Billy | 15°00′S 48°00′W / 15.0°S 48.0°W | 70 km | Named from nearby crater Billy |
Rima Birt | 21°00′S 9°00′W / 21.0°S 9.0°W | 50 km | Named from nearby crater Birt |
Rima Bradley | 23°48′N 1°12′W / 23.8°N 1.2°W | 161 km | Named from nearby Mons Bradley |
Rima Brayley | 21°24′N 37°30′W / 21.4°N 37.5°W | 311 km | Named from nearby crater Brayley |
Rima Calippus | 37°00′N 13°00′E / 37.0°N 13.0°E | 40 km | Named from nearby crater Calippus |
Rima Cardanus | 11°24′N 71°30′E / 11.4°N 71.5°E | 175 km | Named from nearby crater Cardanus |
Rima Carmen | 19°48′N 29°18′E / 19.8°N 29.3°E | 10 km | Spanish feminine name |
Rima Cauchy | 10°30′N 38°00′E / 10.5°N 38.0°E | 140 km | Named from nearby crater Cauchy |
Rima Cleomedes | 27°00′N 57°00′E / 27.0°N 57.0°E | 80 km | Within crater Cleomedes |
Rima Cleopatra | 30°00′N 53°48′W / 30.0°N 53.8°W | 14 km | Greek feminine name |
Rima Conon | 18°36′N 2°00′E / 18.6°N 2.0°E | 30 km | Named from nearby crater Conon |
Rima Dawes | 17°30′N 26°36′E / 17.5°N 26.6°E | 15 km | Named from nearby crater Dawes |
Rima Delisle | 31°00′N 32°00′W / 31.0°N 32.0°W | 60 km | Named from nearby crater Delisle |
Rima Diophantus | 29°00′N 33°00′W / 29.0°N 33.0°W | 150 km | Named from nearby crater Diophantus |
Rima Draper | 18°00′N 25°00′W / 18.0°N 25.0°W | 160 km | Named from nearby crater Draper |
Rima Euler | 21°00′N 31°00′W / 21.0°N 31.0°W | 90 km | Named from nearby crater Euler |
Rima Flammarion | 2°48′S 5°36′W / 2.8°S 5.6°W | 80 km | Named from nearby crater Flammarion |
Rima Furnerius | 35°00′S 61°00′E / 35.0°S 61.0°E | 50 km | Within crater Furnerius |
Rima G. Bond | 33°18′N 35°30′E / 33.3°N 35.5°E | 168 km | Named from nearby crater G. Bond |
Rima Galilaei | 11°54′N 58°30′W / 11.9°N 58.5°W | 89 km | Named from nearby crater Galilaei |
Rima Gärtner | 59°00′N 63°00′E / 59.0°N 63.0°E | 30 km | Within crater Gärtner |
Rima Gay-Lussac | 13°00′N 22°00′W / 13.0°N 22.0°W | 40 km | Named from nearby crater Gay-Lussac |
Rima Hadley | 25°00′N 3°00′E / 25.0°N 3.0°E | 80 km | Named from nearby Mons Hadley |
Rima Hansteen | 12°00′S 53°00′W / 12.0°S 53.0°W | 25 km | Named from nearby crater Hansteen |
Rima Hesiodus | 30°00′S 20°00′W / 30.0°S 20.0°W | 256 km | Named from nearby crater Hesiodus |
Rima Hyginus | 7°24′N 7°48′E / 7.4°N 7.8°E | 219 km | Named from nearby crater Hyginus |
Rima Jansen | 14°30′N 29°00′E / 14.5°N 29.0°E | 35 km | Named from nearby crater Jansen |
Rima Krieger | 29°00′N 45°36′W / 29.0°N 45.6°W | 22 km | Named from nearby crater Krieger |
Rima Mairan | 38°00′N 47°00′W / 38.0°N 47.0°W | 90 km | Named from nearby crater Mairan |
Rima Marcello | 18°36′N 27°42′E / 18.6°N 27.7°E | 2 km | Italian masculine name |
Rima Marius | 16°30′N 48°54′W / 16.5°N 48.9°W | 121 km | Named from nearby crater Marius |
Rima Messier | 1°00′S 45°00′E / 1.0°S 45.0°E | 100 km | Named from nearby crater Messier |
Rima Milichius | 8°00′N 33°00′W / 8.0°N 33.0°W | 100 km | Named from nearby crater Milichius |
Rima Oppolzer | 1°42′S 1°00′E / 1.7°S 1.0°E | 94 km | Named from nearby crater Oppolzer |
Rima Réaumur | 3°00′S 3°00′E / 3.0°S 3.0°E | 30 km | Named from nearby crater Réaumur |
Rima Reiko | 18°36′N 27°42′E / 18.6°N 27.7°E | 2 km | Japanese feminine name |
Rima Rudolf | 19°36′N 29°36′E / 19.6°N 29.6°E | 8 km | German masculine name |
Rima Schröter | 1°00′N 6°00′W / 1.0°N 6.0°W | 40 km | Named from nearby crater Schröter |
Rima Sharp | 46°42′N 50°30′W / 46.7°N 50.5°W | 107 km | Named from nearby crater Sharp |
Rima Sheepshanks | 58°00′N 24°00′E / 58.0°N 24.0°E | 200 km | Named from nearby crater Sheepshanks |
Rima Siegfried | 25°54′S 103°00′E / 25.9°S 103.0°E | 14 km | German masculine name |
Rima Suess | 6°42′N 48°12′E / 6.7°N 48.2°E | 165 km | Named from nearby crater Suess |
Rima Sung-Mei | 24°36′N 11°18′E / 24.6°N 11.3°E | 4 km | Chinese feminine name |
Rima T. Mayer | 13°00′N 31°00′W / 13.0°N 31.0°W | 50 km | Named from nearby crater T. Mayer |
Rima Vladimir | 25°12′N 0°42′W / 25.2°N 0.7°W | 14 km | Slavic masculine name |
Rima Wan-Yu | 20°00′N 31°30′W / 20.0°N 31.5°W | 12 km | Chinese feminine name |
Rima Yangel' | 16°42′N 4°36′E / 16.7°N 4.6°E | 30 km | Named from nearby crater Yangel' |
Rima Zahia | 25°00′N 29°30′W / 25.0°N 29.5°W | 16 km | Arabic feminine name |
Rimae
These features are lunar rille systems.
Name | Coordinates | Dia. | Name Origin |
---|---|---|---|
Rimae Alphonsus | 14°00′S 2°00′W / 14.0°S 2.0°W | 80 km | Within crater Alphonsus |
Rimae Apollonius | 5°00′N 53°00′E / 5.0°N 53.0°E | 230 km | Named from nearby crater Apollonius |
Rimae Archimedes | 26°36′N 4°06′W / 26.6°N 4.1°W | 169 km | Named from nearby crater Archimedes |
Rimae Aristarchus | 26°54′N 47°30′W / 26.9°N 47.5°W | 121 km | Named from nearby crater Aristarchus |
Rimae Arzachel | 18°00′S 2°00′W / 18.0°S 2.0°W | 50 km | Within crater Arzachel |
Rimae Atlas | 47°30′N 43°36′E / 47.5°N 43.6°E | 60 km | Within crater Atlas |
Rimae Bode | 10°00′N 4°00′W / 10.0°N 4.0°W | 70 km | Named from nearby crater Bode |
Rimae Boscovich | 9°48′N 11°06′E / 9.8°N 11.1°E | 40 km | Within crater Boscovich |
Rimae Chacornac | 29°00′N 32°00′E / 29.0°N 32.0°E | 120 km | Named from nearby crater Chacornac |
Rimae Daniell | 37°00′N 26°00′E / 37.0°N 26.0°E | 200 km | Named from nearby crater Daniell |
Rimae Darwin | 19°18′S 69°30′W / 19.3°S 69.5°W | 143 km | Named from nearby crater Darwin |
Rimae Doppelmayer | 25°54′S 45°06′W / 25.9°S 45.1°W | 162 km | Named from nearby crater Doppelmayer |
Rimae Focas | 28°00′S 98°00′W / 28.0°S 98.0°W | 100 km | Named from nearby crater Focas |
Rimae Fresnel | 28°00′N 4°00′E / 28.0°N 4.0°E | 90 km | Named from nearby Promontorium Fresnel |
Rimae de Gasparis | 24°36′S 51°06′W / 24.6°S 51.1°W | 93 km | Named from nearby crater de Gasparis |
Rimae Gassendi | 18°00′S 40°00′W / 18.0°S 40.0°W | 70 km | Within crater Gassendi |
Rimae Gerard | 46°00′N 84°00′W / 46.0°N 84.0°W | 100 km | Named from nearby crater Gerard |
Rimae Goclenius | 8°00′S 43°00′E / 8.0°S 43.0°E | 240 km | Named from nearby crater Goclenius |
Rimae Grimaldi | 9°00′N 64°00′W / 9.0°N 64.0°W | 230 km | Named from nearby crater Grimaldi |
Rimae Hypatia | 0°24′S 22°24′E / 0.4°S 22.4°E | 206 km | Named from nearby crater Hypatia |
Rimae Janssen | 45°36′S 40°00′E / 45.6°S 40.0°E | 114 km | Named from nearby crater Janssen |
Rimae Kopff | 17°24′S 89°36′W / 17.4°S 89.6°W | 41 km | Named from nearby crater Kopff |
Rimae Liebig | 20°00′S 45°00′W / 20.0°S 45.0°W | 140 km | Named from nearby crater Liebig |
Rimae Littrow | 22°06′N 29°54′E / 22.1°N 29.9°E | 115 km | Named from nearby crater Littrow |
Rimae Maclear | 13°00′S 20°00′E / 13.0°S 20.0°E | 110 km | Named from nearby crater Maclear |
Rimae Maestlin | 2°00′N 40°00′W / 2.0°N 40.0°W | 80 km | Named from nearby crater Maestlin |
Rimae Maupertuis | 52°00′N 23°00′W / 52.0°N 23.0°W | 84 km | Named from nearby crater Maupertuis |
Rimae Menelaus | 17°12′N 17°54′E / 17.2°N 17.9°E | 131 km | Named from nearby crater Menelaus |
Rimae Mersenius | 21°30′S 49°12′W / 21.5°S 49.2°W | 84 km | Named from nearby crater Mersenius |
Rimae Opelt | 13°00′S 18°00′W / 13.0°S 18.0°W | 70 km | Named from nearby crater Opelt |
Rimae Palmieri | 28°00′S 47°00′W / 28.0°S 47.0°W | 150 km | Named from nearby crater Palmieri |
Rimae Parry | 6°06′S 16°48′W / 6.1°S 16.8°W | 82 km | Named from nearby crater Parry |
Rimae Petavius | 25°54′S 58°54′E / 25.9°S 58.9°E | 80 km | Named from nearby crater Petavius |
Rimae Pettit | 23°00′S 92°00′W / 23.0°S 92.0°W | 450 km | Named from nearby crater Pettit |
Rimae Pitatus | 28°30′S 13°48′W / 28.5°S 13.8°W | 94 km | Named from nearby crater Pitatus |
Rimae Plato | 52°54′N 3°12′W / 52.9°N 3.2°W | 87 km | Named from nearby crater Plato |
Rimae Plinius | 17°54′N 23°36′E / 17.9°N 23.6°E | 124 km | Named from nearby crater Plinius |
Rimae Posidonius | 32°00′N 28°42′E / 32.0°N 28.7°E | 70 km | Named from nearby crater Posidonius |
Rimae Prinz | 27°00′N 43°00′W / 27.0°N 43.0°W | 80 km | Named from nearby crater Prinz |
Rimae Ramsden | 33°54′S 31°24′W / 33.9°S 31.4°W | 108 km | Named from nearby crater Ramsden |
Rimae Repsold | 50°36′N 81°42′W / 50.6°N 81.7°W | 166 km | Named from nearby crater Repsold |
Rimae Riccioli | 2°00′N 74°00′W / 2.0°N 74.0°W | 400 km | Named from nearby crater Riccioli |
Rimae Ritter | 3°00′N 18°00′W / 3.0°N 18.0°W | 100 km | Named from nearby crater Ritter |
Rimae Römer | 27°00′N 35°00′W / 27.0°N 35.0°W | 110 km | Named from nearby crater Römer |
Rimae Secchi | 1°00′N 44°00′W / 1.0°N 44.0°W | 35 km | Named from nearby crater Secchi |
Rimae Sirsalis | 15°42′S 61°42′W / 15.7°S 61.7°W | 426 km | Named from nearby crater Sirsalis |
Rimae Sosigenes | 8°36′N 18°42′E / 8.6°N 18.7°E | 190 km | Named from nearby crater Sosigenes |
Rimae Sulpicius Gallus | 21°00′N 10°00′E / 21.0°N 10.0°E | 90 km | Named from nearby crater Sulpicius Gallus |
Rimae Taruntius | 5°30′N 46°30′E / 5.5°N 46.5°E | 25 km | Named from nearby crater Taruntius |
Rimae Theaetetus | 33°00′N 6°00′E / 33.0°N 6.0°E | 50 km | Named from nearby crater Theaetetus |
Rimae Triesnecker | 4°18′N 4°36′E / 4.3°N 4.6°E | 215 km | Named from nearby crater Triesnecker |
Rimae Vasco da Gama | 10°00′N 82°00′E / 10.0°N 82.0°E | 60 km | Named from nearby crater Vasco da Gama |
Rimae Zupus | 15°00′S 53°00′W / 15.0°S 53.0°W | 120 km | Named from nearby crater Zupus |
Rupis
These are escarpments in the surface.
Name | Coordinates | Dia. | Name Origin |
---|---|---|---|
Rupes Altai | 24°18′S 22°36′E / 24.3°S 22.6°E | 427.0 km | Altai Mountains |
Rupes Boris | 30°30′N 33°30′W / 30.5°N 33.5°W | 4.0 km | Named from nearby crater Boris |
Rupes Cauchy | 9°00′N 37°00′E / 9.0°N 37.0°E | 120.0 km | Named from nearby crater Cauchy |
Rupes Kelvin | 27°18′S 33°06′W / 27.3°S 33.1°W | 78.0 km | Named from nearby Promontorium Kelvin |
Rupes Liebig | 25°00′S 46°00′W / 25.0°S 46.0°W | 180.0 km | Named from nearby crater Liebig |
Rupes Mercator | 31°00′S 22°18′W / 31.0°S 22.3°W | 93.0 km | Named from nearby crater Mercator |
Rupes Recta | 22°06′S 7°48′W / 22.1°S 7.8°W | 134.0 km | Latin for "straight cliff"[6] |
Rupes Toscanelli | 27°24′N 47°30′W / 27.4°N 47.5°W | 70.0 km | Named from nearby crater Toscanelli |
Terra
The continental areas between the seas were given comparable names by Giovanni Battista Riccioli,[7] but were opposite the names used for the seas. Thus there were the lands of sterility (Terra Sterilitatis), heat (Terra Caloris), and liveliness (Terra Vitae). However these names for the highland regions are no longer used on recent maps, and Terrae are not officially recognized as standard lunar nomenclature by the International Astronomical Union.[8]
Name | Name Origin | Near side position |
---|---|---|
Insula Ventorum | Island of Winds | |
Peninsula Fulminu | Peninsula of Thunder | Between Mare Humorum and Oceanus Procellarum.[9] |
Terra Caloris | Land of Heat | Southwest rim of the near side.[9] |
Terra Fertilitatis | Land of Fertility | Southeastern rim of the near side.[9] |
Terrae Grandinis | Land of Hail | Northeast border of Mare Imbrium.[9] |
Terrae Manna | Land of Manna | Region between Mare Tranquillitatis, Mare Fecunditatis and Mare Nectaris.[9] |
Terra Niuiu (Terra Nivium) | Land of Snows | Southeast border of Mare Imbrium.[9] |
Terra Pruinæ | Land of Frost | Northwest border of Mare Imbrium.[9] |
Terra Sanitatis | Land of Healthiness | Central region between Mare Nubium and Mare Tranquillitatis.[9] |
Terra Siccitatis | Land of Dryness | Northwest rim of the near side.[9] |
Terra Sterilitatis | Land of Sterility | |
Terra Vigoris | Land of Cheerfulness | Region southeast of Mare Crisium.[9] |
Terra Vitæ | Land of Liveliness | Northeast rim of the near side.[9] |
Craters
The large majority of these features are impact craters. The crater nomenclature is governed by the International Astronomical Union, and this listing only includes features that are officially recognized by that scientific society.
The lunar craters are listed in the following subsections. Where a formation has associated satellite craters, these are detailed on the main crater description pages.
Lists of craters on the Moon | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
See also
References
- ↑ Moore, Patrick (1983). The Guinness book of astronomy facts and feats. Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 25. ISBN 0-85112-258-2.
- ↑ "Moon Mare/Maria". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
- 1 2 "Astronomica Langrenus" (in Italian). Retrieved 2006-12-05.
- ↑ Formerly called Mons Euler.
- ↑ Now Matapan or Tainaron
- ↑ Traditionally called the "Straight Wall".
- ↑ Wood, Chuck (April 18, 2006). "Restoring Bright Names". LPOD lunar photo of the day. Retrieved 2006-12-02.
- ↑ Blue, Jennifer (October 16, 2006). "Categories for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites.". USGS. Retrieved 2007-05-04.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Wood, Chuck (2006-07-13). "Restoring bright names". LPOD. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
These were used for references in the Water Features section.
- Andersson, L. E.; Whitaker, E. A. (1982). NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature (PDF). NASA RP-1097., no ISBN.
- Ben Bussey and Paul Spudis, The Clementine Atlas of the Moon, Cambridge University Press, 2004, ISBN 0-521-81528-2.
- Antonín Rükl, Atlas of the Moon, Kalmbach Books, 1990, ISBN 0-913135-17-8.
- Ewen A. Whitaker, Mapping and Naming the Moon, Cambridge University Press, 1999, ISBN 0-521-62248-4.
The following sources were used as references on the individual crater pages.
- Andersson, L. E.; Whitaker, E. A. (1982). NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature (PDF). NASA RP-1097.
- Blue, Jennifer (July 25, 2007). "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature". USGS. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
- Bussey, B.; Spudis, P., (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-81528-2.
- Cocks, Elijah E.; Cocks, Josiah C. (1995). Who's Who on the Moon: A Biographical Dictionary of Lunar Nomenclature. Tudor Publishers. ISBN 0-936389-27-3.
- McDowell, Jonathan (July 15, 2007). "Lunar Nomenclature". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
- Menzel, Donald H. (February 1971). "Final Report on NGR 22-007-194, Lunar Nomenclature" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
- Menzel, D. H.; Minnaert, M.; Levin, B.; Dollfus, A.; Bell, B. (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by The Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews. 12 (2): 136. Bibcode:1971SSRv...12..136M. doi:10.1007/BF00171763.
- Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. ISBN 0-304-35469-4.
- Price, Fred W. (1988). The Moon observer's handbook. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-33500-0.
- Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 0-913135-17-8.
- Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revision ed.). Dover. ISBN 0-486-20917-2.
- Whitaker, Ewen A. (2003). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-54414-6.
- Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 1-85233-193-3.
External links
- NASA lunar Atlas
- IAU, USGS: Moon nomenclature
- IAU, USGS: Moon nomenclature: mountains
- Astronomica Langrenus — Italian Lunar Web Site
- Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature
- Lunar Atlases at the Lunar & Planetary Institute
- Lunar Nomenclature
- Lunar Photo of the Day by Charles A. Wood et al.