Pogson Crater Parents Three Satellites in Mare Australe’s Eastern Edge

Summary: Pogson Crater parents three satellites in Mare Australe’s eastern edge in the lunar far side’s southwestern quadrant.

Detail of view of southwestern lunar far side shows Pogson Crater system, comprising parental Pogson Crater and trio of satellites C, F and G; frame M-121 image obtained Feb. 19, 1967, at 19:22 Universal Time, by Lunar Orbiter 3, from a distance of 1,500 kilometers; blue arrow=Pogson Crater, yellow=Pogson C, green=Pogson F, red=Pogson G: NASA Lunar Orbiter 3, Public Domain, via NASA GSFC NSSDC Catalog of Spaceborne Imaging

Pogson Crater parents three satellites in Mare Australe’s eastern edge as a mid-latitude crater system in the lunar far side’s southwestern quadrant.

The system’s parental crater is centered at minus 42.38 degrees south latitude, 111.11 degrees east longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The primary lunar impact crater registers northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 41.7 degrees south and minus 43.05 degrees south, respectively. Parental Pogson records easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 112.03 degrees east and 110.2 degrees east, respectively. Pogson Crater’s diameter measures 40.87 kilometers.

Pogson Crater parents three satellites. All three satellites are found to the east of their parent. C claims the closest position, lying to the northeast of its parent. G is located to the southeast of its parent and of C. Sited directly to the east, F logs the most distance from its parent.

Satellite F contrasts with C and G in the intricate swirl of its interior features. Ridgelike formations that extend from the crater’s inner walls distinguish the interior floor’s northwestern, northeastern and southeastern quadrants. Craterlets are strewn rather noticeably across the southwestern quadrant’s somewhat level floor. Craterlets also pock the other quadrants, with the largest conspicuously situated amid the northwestern quadrant’s ridges.

Pogson C is centered at minus 41.62 degrees south latitude, 112.24 degrees east longitude. Satellite C obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 41.35 degrees south and minus 41.9 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes occur at 112.62 degrees east and 111.87 degrees east, respectively. The satellite’s diameter of 16.81 kilometers places C as the smallest of the Pogson system’s three satellites.

Pogson F is centered at minus 42.3 degrees south latitude, 115.42 degrees east longitude. Satellite F marks northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 41.73 degrees south and minus 42.86 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes are found at 116.19 degrees east and 114.66 degrees east, respectively. Satellite F’s diameter of 34.25 kilometers qualifies as Pogson F as the largest of the Pogson system’s three satellites.

Pogson G is centered at minus 42.96 degrees south latitude, 113.42 degrees east longitude. Satellite G’s northernmost and southernmost latitudes reach minus 42.41 degrees south and minus 43.51 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes extend to 114.17 degrees east and 112.67 degrees east, respectively. Satellite G has a diameter of 33.21 kilometers.

The Pogson Crater system occupies the eastern edge of the far side and near side’s shared southeastern basaltic plain, Mare Australe. The Southern Sea overlaps the moon’s eastern limb. The Pogson Crater system and the mid- to far regions of Mare Australe are found on the lunar far side, behind the near side’s southeastern limb.

Mare Australe is centered at minus 47.77 degrees south latitude, 91.99 degrees east longitude. The lunar mare’s northernmost and southernmost latitudes reach minus 31.84 degrees south and minus 64.2 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes stretch to 113.36 degrees east and 70.43 degrees east, respectively. Mare Australe’s diameter measures 996.84 kilometers.

The takeaways for the lunar far side’s Pogson Crater’s parentage of three satellites in Mare Australe’s eastern edge are that the Pogson system’s three satellites lie to the east of their parent; that the system’s most northerly, southerly and easterly placements are claimed by C, G and F, respectively; that Pogson F is the system’s largest satellite, with a diameter of 34.25 kilometers; that Pogson C is the system’s smallest satellite, with a diameter of 16.81 kilometers; that Pogson F exhibits the system’s most intricately featured interior; that Pogson C claims closest occupancy to its parent; and that Pogson F’s location logs the most distance from parental Pogson.

Detail of Lunar Astronautical Chart (LAC) 117 shows Pogson Crater system, comprising parental Pogson and trio of satellites Pogson C, Pogson G and Pogson F; 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:

Detail of view of southwestern lunar far side shows Pogson Crater system, comprising parental Pogson Crater and trio of satellites C, F and G; frame M-121 image obtained Feb. 19, 1967, at 19:22 Universal Time, by Lunar Orbiter 3, from a distance of 1,500 kilometers and phase angle 70.19 degrees; blue arrow=Pogson Crater, yellow=Pogson C, green=Pogson F, red=Pogson G: NASA Lunar Orbiter 3, Public Domain, via NASA GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center) NSSDC (NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive) Catalog of Spaceborne Imaging @ https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/html/object_page/lo3_m121.html

Detail of Lunar Astronautical Chart (LAC) 117 shows Pogson Crater system, comprising parental Pogson and trio of satellites Pogson C, Pogson G and Pogson F; 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 @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/Lunar/lac_117_wac.pdf

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