Widmannstätten (crater)

Widmannstätten
Apollo 17 mapping camera image, Kiess at center and Widmannstätten in upper right
Coordinates6°05′S 85°26′E / 6.09°S 85.43°E / -6.09; 85.43
Diameter52.88 km
Depth0.74 km[1]
Colongitude275° at sunrise
EponymAlois B. Widmannstätten
Oblique view of Kiess and Widmannstätten from Apollo 12

Widmannstätten is a lunar impact crater in the southern part of the Mare Smythii, near the eastern limb of the Moon. The rim of this crater has a wide gap along the western side, where it is joined to the larger Kiess. There is also a gap in the northern rim where the crater floor is joined to the adjacent lunar mare. The dark interior floor of this formation has been flooded by lava, leaving a level interior surface and a shallow surviving rim.

The craters Kiess and Widmannstätten were referred to as Wright Brothers, such as by the crew of Apollo 17,[2] prior to being officially named by the IAU in 1973.[3]

References

  1. ^ LTO-81B3 Widmannstatten, Lunar Topographic Orthophotomap (LTO) Series
  2. ^ Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report (NASA Special Publication 330). Scientific and Technical Information Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C. 1973. Figure 28-9.
  3. ^ Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN, Kiess, Widmannstätten
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