Mairan (crater)

Mairan (crater)

Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Coordinates	41°36′N 43°24′W / 41.6°N 43.4°WCoordinates: 41°36′N 43°24′W / 41.6°N 43.4°W
Diameter	40 km
Depth	3.4 km
Colongitude	44° at sunrise
Eponym	Jean J. d'Ortous de Mairan

Lunar dome Mairan T

Mairan is a lunar impact crater that is located on a highland peninsula between Oceanus Procellarum to the west and Mare Imbrium to the east. To the north-northeast is the comparably sized crater Sharp. Northwest of Mairan is the heavily eroded Louville.

The outer rim of Mairan has not been significantly eroded or impacted, and retains a sharp edge. The surface around Mairan is rough and irregular, with a multitude of many tiny craters, particularly to the south and west. The inner walls display some terracing, and flow down to a relatively flat interior floor.

In the mare, due west of Mairan, is a small lunar dome designated Mairan T with tiny crater at the summit (in official IAU nomenclature this name refers only to the crater).^[1] Its width is about 7 km, and height is about 800 m.^[2] It is one of unusually steep and bright domes which are thought to be formed by very viscous, high-Si lava.^[3] There is also a sinuous rille along the southwest edge of the highland peninsula containing Mairan. It is designated Rima Mairan, and follows a north–south course for a length of about 100 kilometers.

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 Mairan.

Mairan	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	38.6° N	38.8° W	16 km
C	38.6° N	46.0° W	7 km
D	40.9° N	45.4° W	10 km
E	37.8° N	37.2° W	6 km
F	40.3° N	45.1° W	9 km
G	40.9° N	50.8° W	6 km
H	39.3° N	40.0° W	5 km
K	40.8° N	41.0° W	6 km
L	39.0° N	43.2° W	6 km
N	39.2° N	45.5° W	6 km
T	41.7° N	48.3° W	3 km
Y	42.7° N	44.0° W	7 km

References

1. Blue, Jennifer. "Mairan". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
2. Tran, T.; Robinson, M. S.; Lawrence, S. J.; Braden, S. E.; Plescia, J.; Hawke, B. R.; et al. (March 2011). "Morphometry of Lunar Volcanic Domes from LROC" (PDF). 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, held March 7–11, 2011 at The Woodlands, Texas. LPI Contribution (1608 p.2228): 2228. Bibcode:2011LPI....42.2228T.
3. Lena R.; Wöhler C.; Phillips J.; Chiocchetta M. T. (2013). Lunar Domes: Properties and Formation Processes. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. vii, 5–13, 35, 42. doi:10.1007/978-88-470-2637-7. ISBN 9788847026377.

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