Stadius (crater)

Stadius (crater)

Mosaic of Lunar Orbiter 4 images
Coordinates 10°29′N 13°46′W / 10.48°N 13.77°W / 10.48; -13.77Coordinates: 10°29′N 13°46′W / 10.48°N 13.77°W / 10.48; -13.77
Diameter 69 km
Depth None
Colongitude 13° at sunrise
Eponym Johannes Stadius

Stadius is a ghostly remnant of an ancient lunar crater that has been nearly obliterated by basaltic lava flows. It lies to the southwest of the much younger crater Eratosthenes, at the north edge of Mare Insularum where the mare joins Sinus Aestuum. To the west is the prominent ray crater Copernicus, and multiple secondary craters from the Copernican ejecta cover this area. To the northwest is a chain of craters that continue in a roughly linear formation until reaching Mare Imbrium.

Only the northwestern rim of Stadius remains nearly intact, and it joins with a north-running ridge line that reaches the western rampart of Eratosthenes. The remainder of the formation forms a ghostly trace of the original rim, created from a few rises in the surface, and there is no indication of a central peak. The flat crater floor is pock-marked by craterlets, many of which were generated by secondary impacts from the creation of Copernicus.[1]

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 Stadius.

Stadius Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 10.4° N 14.8° W 5 km
B 11.8° N 13.6° W 6 km
C 9.7° N 12.8° W 3 km
D 10.3° N 15.3° W 4 km
E 12.6° N 15.6° W 5 km
F 13.0° N 15.7° W 5 km
G 11.2° N 14.8° W 5 km
H 11.6° N 13.9° W 4 km
J 13.8° N 16.1° W 4 km
K 9.7° N 13.6° W 4 km
L 10.1° N 12.9° W 3 km
M 14.7° N 16.5° W 7 km
N 9.4° N 15.7° W 5 km
P 11.8° N 15.2° W 6 km
Q 11.5° N 14.8° W 4 km
R 12.2° N 15.2° W 6 km
S 12.9° N 15.5° W 5 km
T 13.2° N 15.7° W 7 km
U 13.9° N 16.4° W 5 km
W 14.1° N 16.4° W 5 km

References

  1. Wood, Chuck (October 26, 2007). "Before and After". Lunar Photo of the Day. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
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