Taruntius Crater Parents 15 Satellites on Northwest Mare Fecunditatis

Summary: The lunar near side’s Taruntius Crater parents 15 satellites on northwest Mare Fecunditatis (Sea of Fecundity).

Detail of Lunar Aeronautical Chart (LAC) 62 shows six Taruntius satellite craters (K, O, P, U, V, X) and Asada and Smithson craters (formerly Taruntius satellites A and N); scale 1:1,000,000; Mercator Projection: United States Air Force (USAF) Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC) via USGS/Gazetter of Planetary Nomenclature

The lunar near side’s Taruntius Crater parents 15 satellites on northwest Mare Fecunditatis, an area neighbored by Mare Crisium (Sea of Crises) to the north and Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility) to the west.

In their 1996 article on Taruntius, planetary geologists Robert W. Wichman and Peter H. Schultz described the lunar impact crater’s ejecta and secondary impact features as “nearly pristine” (196). Taruntius Crater’s 15 satellites surround their parent, but mostly lie to the south.

Lying northwest of its parent, Taruntius Z is centered at 7.56 degrees north latitude, 44.9 degrees east longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes register 7.87 degrees north and 7.25 degrees north, respectively. Easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 45.21 degrees east and 44.59 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 18.78 kilometers.

L and S lie to the west. L is centered at 5.46 degrees north latitude, 44.52 degrees east longitude. L obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 5.65 degrees north and 5.26 degrees north, respectively. L registers easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 44.75 degrees east and 44.29 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 14.26 kilometers.

S is located in the southeastern fringes of Mare Tranquillitatis. S is centered at 4.85 degrees north latitude, 42.35 degrees east longitude. S marks northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 4.93 degrees north and 4.77 degrees north, respectively. Easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 42.43 degrees east and 42.27 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 4.84 kilometers.

Lying to the southwest, F also occupies the southeastern fringes of Mare Tranquillitatis. The satellite is centered at 3.92 degrees north latitude, 40.51 degrees east longitude. F’s northernmost and southernmost latitudes reach to 4.09 degrees north and 3.75 degrees north, respectively. Easternmost and westernmost longitudes extend to 40.68 degrees east and 40.35 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 10.16 kilometers.

South-lying B is centered at 3.29 degrees north latitude, 46.67 degrees east longitude. B claims northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 3.41 degrees north and 3.17 degrees north, respectively. Easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 46.79 degrees east and 46.55 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 7.32 kilometers.

To the south-southeast, T is centered at 3.6 degrees north latitude, 47.4 degrees east longitude. Northernmost and southernmost latitudes extend to 3.67 degrees north and 3.53 degrees north, respectively. Easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 47.47 degrees east and 47.33 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 4.28 kilometers.

H, K and P form a triangle in the southeast. H is centered at 0.33 degrees north latitude, 49.88 degrees east longitude. Northernmost and southernmost latitudes register at 0.47 degrees north and 0.19 degrees north, respectively. Easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 50.02 degrees east and 49.73 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 8.59 kilometers.

K is centered at 0.65 degrees north latitude, 51.57 degrees east longitude. Northernmost and southernmost latitudes extend to 0.74 degrees north and 0.55 degrees north, respectively. K’s easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 51.67 degrees east and 51.48 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 5.65 kilometers.

P is centered at 0.06 degrees north latitude, 51.58 degrees east longitude. P registers northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 0.17 degrees north and minus 0.05 degrees south, respectively. P claims easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 51.7 degrees east and 51.47 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 6.78 kilometers.

Lying to the southeast, O is centered at 2.23 degrees north latitude, 54.33 degrees east longitude. Northernmost and southernmost latitudes extend to 2.33 degrees north and 2.13 degrees north, respectively. Easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 54.43 degrees east and 54.23 degrees east, respectively. O’s diameter measures 6 kilometers.

Satellites R, U, V and W lie to the east. R is centered at 6.14 degrees north latitude, 47.85 degrees east longitude. R obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 6.22 degrees north and 6.06 degrees north, respectively. Easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 47.93 degrees east and 47.78 degrees east, respectively.

U is centered at 5.54 degrees north latitude, 50.13 degrees east longitude. Northernmost and southernmost latitudes reach 5.68 degrees north and 5.39 degrees north, respectively. Easternmost and westernmost longitudes extend to 50.27 degrees east and 49.99 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 8.69 kilometers.

V is centered at 4.45 degrees north latitude, 49.83 degrees east longitude. V obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 4.78 degrees north and 4.13 degrees north, respectively. Easternmost and westernmost longitudes register at 50.16 degrees east and 49.5 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 19.83 kilometers.

W is centered at 5.44 degrees north latitude, 49.05 degrees east longitude. W obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 5.71 degrees north and 5.16 degrees north, respectively. Easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 49.32 degrees east and 48.77 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 16.82 kilometers.

Lying northeast of its parent, Taruntius X is centered at 7.86 degrees north latitude, 52.94 degrees east longitude. X registers northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 8.23 degrees and 7.49 degrees north, respectively. Easternmost and westernmost longitudes extend to 53.31 degrees east and 52.56 degrees east, respectively. Its diameter measures 22.63 kilometers.

The takeaway for lunar near side Taruntius Crater system’s parenting of 15 satellites is that two are located to the west, in Mare Tranquillitatis, and 13 surround their parent in Mare Fecunditatis.

Detail of Lunar Aeronautical Chart (LAC) 61 shows 10 Taruntius satellite craters (B, F, H, L, R, S, T, V, W, Z) and Anville, Asada, Cameron, Lawrence, Watts and Zähringer craters (formerly Taruntius satellites G, A, C, M, D, E, respectively); scale 1:1,000,000; Mercator Projection: United States Air Force (USAF) Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC) via USGS/Gazetter of Planetary Nomenclature

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Detail of Lunar Aeronautical Chart (LAC) 62 shows six Taruntius satellite craters (K, O, P, U, V, X) and Asada and Smithson craters (formerly Taruntius satellites A and N); scale 1:1,000,000; Mercator Projection: United States Air Force (USAF) Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC) via USGS/Gazetter of Planetary Nomenclature @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/Lunar/lac_62_wac.pdf

Detail of Lunar Aeronautical Chart (LAC) 61 shows 10 Taruntius satellite craters (B, F, H, L, R, S, T, V, W, Z) and Anville, Asada, Cameron, Lawrence, Watts and Zähringer craters (formerly Taruntius satellites G, A, C, M, D, E, respectively); scale 1:1,000,000; Mercator Projection: United States Air Force (USAF) Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC) via USGS/Gazetter of Planetary Nomenclature @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/Lunar/lac_61_wac.pdf

For further information:

Consolmagno, Guy; and Dan M. Davis. Turn Left at Orion. Fourth edition. Cambridge UK; New York NY: Cambridge University Press, 2011.

International Astronomical Union. “Mare Crisium.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3671

International Astronomical Union. “Mare Fecunditatis.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3673

International Astronomical Union. “Mare Tranquillitatis.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3691

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5878

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius B.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13405

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius F.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13406

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius H.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13407

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius K.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13408

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius L.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13409

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius O.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13410

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius P.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13411

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius R.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13412

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius S.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13413

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius T.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13414

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius U.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13415

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius V.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13416

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius W.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13417

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius X.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13418

International Astronomical Union. “Taruntius Z.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13419

Levy, David H. Skywatching. Revised and updated. San Francisco CA: Fog City Press, 1994.

Marriner, Derdriu. “Lunar Near Side’s Taruntius Crater System Lost Four Satellites in 1976.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, April 27, 2011.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/04/lunar-near-sides-taruntius-crater.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Lunar Taruntius Crater System Borders Northwestern Mare Fecunditatis.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, April 13, 2011.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/04/lunar-taruntius-crater-system-borders.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Lunar Taruntius Crater System Lost Three Satellites in 1973.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, April 20, 2011.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/04/lunar-taruntius-crater-system-lost.html

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U.S. Geological Survey. Color-Coded Topography and Shaded Relief Map of the Lunar Near Side and Far Side Hemispheres. U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Investigations Series I-2769. Page last modified Nov. 30, 2016. Flagstaff AZ: U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center, 2003.
Available via USGS Publications Warehouse @ https://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/i2769/