Earth and Space News: Harkhebi Crater Parents Six Satellites on Lunar Far Side

Summary: Harkhebi Crater parents six satellites on the lunar far side, in the northwest quadrant, to the southeast of Mare Humboldtianum.

Detail of oblique, northward view, obtained 1967 by Lunar Orbiter 5, shows Harkhebi Crater (center) encircling superimposed Fabry Crater (center right), with (center left) Giordano Bruno Crater between satellites J (right) and K (above); (left to right around Fabry) satellites H, U, T and W and western rim grazer Vashakidze Crater (upper right); NASA ID Frame 5181: James Stuby (Jstuby), Public Domain (CC0 1.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Harkhebi Crater parents six satellites on the lunar far side, in the northwest quadrant, to the southeast of north polar basaltic plain Mare Humboldtianum (Humboldt Sea).

Primary lunar impact crater Harkhebi is centered at 40.87 degrees north latitude, 98.74 degrees east longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The worn crater posts northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 46.36 degrees north and 35.34 degrees north, respectively. The parental crater marks easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 104.6 degrees east and 92.94 degrees east, respectively. Harkhebi’s diameter measures 337.14 kilometers.

Harkhebi Crater parents six satellites. All six satellites cluster around their parent.

Satellites H, T, U and W populate their parent’s western interior floor. They arch around Fabry Crater, which overlays their parent’s north-northeastern area.

Harkhebi H rests to the south-southwest of superimposed Fabry Crater. A large craterlet crashes against the satellite’s northwestern rim, which a rim craterlet deforms into an outward bulge.

Harkhebi H is situated is centered at 39.4 degrees north latitude, 99.73 degrees east longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes occur at 39.88 degrees north and 38.92 degrees north, respectively. Satellite H finds its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 100.35 degrees east and 99.11 degrees east, respectively. Harkhebi H has a diameter of 28.93 kilometers.

Harkhebi W claims the most northerly position of its parent’s six satellites. Vashakidze Crater, positioned opposite satellite W on parental Harkhebi’s outer northwestern rim, dwarfs the northernmost Harkhebi satellite.

Harkhebi W is centered at 43.35 degrees north latitude, 95.55 degrees east longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes occur at 43.63 degrees north and 43.06 degrees north, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes are found at 95.95 degrees east and 95.16 degrees east, respectively. Harkhebi H’s diameter of 17.4 kilometers qualifies it as the smallest of its parent’s six satellites.

Harkhebi T and Harkhebi U rest between Harkhebi H and Harkhebi W. Harkhebi U approximates the midpoint in a perfect arc with satellite H, to its southeast, and satellite W, to its northwest.

Harkhebi T claims the most westerly position of its parent’s six satellites. The satellite lies to the southwest of Harkhebi U.

Harkhebi T is centered at 40.04 degrees north latitude, 95.31 degrees east longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes touch 40.34 degrees north and 39.73 degrees north, respectively. It posts easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 95.71 degrees east and 94.91 degrees east, respectively. Harkhebi T has a diameter of 18.5 kilometers.

Harkhebi U is centered at 40.78 degrees north latitude, 96.81 degrees east longitude. It finds northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 41.08 degrees north and 40.48 degrees north, respectively. It marks easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 97.2 degrees east and 96.41 degrees east, respectively. Harkhebi U has a diameter of 18.16 kilometers.

Satellites J and K dimple their parent’s southern rim. They form a wide vee-shape with Giordano Bruno, a bright crater sited near parental Harkhebi’s south-southeastern rim. A bright ray system centered on Giordano Bruno Crater encompasses Harkhebi J and Harkhebi K in its glow.

Harkhebi J’s southeasterly placement qualifies it as the most easterly of its parent’s six satellites. Nearby Harkhebi K’s location qualifies it as the southerly of its parent’s six satellites.

Harkhebi J is centered at 37.42 degrees north latitude, 103.36 degrees east longitude, respectively. It records northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 38.11 degrees north and 36.73 degrees north, respectively. The satellite registers easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 104.23 degrees east and 102.49 degrees east, respectively. Harkhebi J’s diameter of 43.11 kilometers qualifies it as the largest of its parent’s six satellites.

Harkhebi K is centered at 35.81 degrees north latitude, 100.76 degrees east longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes reach 36.23 degrees north and 35.38 degrees north, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes extend to 101.29 degrees east and 100.24 degrees east, respectively. Harkhebi K has a diameter of 25.92 kilometers.

The takeaways for Harkhebi Crater’s parentage of six satellites on the lunar far side are that all satellites cluster in or on their parent’s borders; that four satellites (H, T, U and W) reside on their parent’s interior floor; that two satellites (J, K) perch on their parent’s southern rim; that the most northern, eastern, southern and western positions are claimed by H, J, K and T, respectively; and that the smallest and largest satellites are H and J, respectively.

Detail of Lunar Astronautical Charts (LAC) 29 shows the Harkhebi Crater system in the lunar far side’s northwestern quadrant; courtesy NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) / GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center) / ASU (Arizona State University): U.S. Geological Survey, Public Domain, via USGS Astrogeology Science Center / Gazetteer 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:

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Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/1896

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Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/2365

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Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/9724

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Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/9725

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Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/9726

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Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/9727

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Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/9728

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Harkhebi W.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
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Earth and Space News

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Harkhebi Crater Parents Six Satellites on Lunar Far Side

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