Rumford Crater Parents Six Satellites on Lunar Far Side

Summary: Rumford Crater parents six satellites on the lunar far side, in the southeastern quadrant, in proximity to the 180th meridian.

Detail of Lunar Astronautical Charts (LAC) 104 shows the Rumford Crater system’s western satellites, Rumford Q and T, on the lunar far side; 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

Rumford Crater parents six satellites on the lunar side as a crater system in the southeastern quadrant, in proximity to the 180th meridian, the antimeridian.

Dark-floored Rumford Crater is centered at minus 28.81 degrees south latitude, minus 169.8 degrees west longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes stretch from minus 27.81 degrees south to minus 29.81 degrees south, respectively. The southern hemisphere crater’s easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach minus 168.66 degrees west and minus 170.95 degrees west, respectively. Rumford Crater’s diameter measures 60.83 kilometers.

Rumford Crater parents six satellites. Two satellites reside as their parent’s west side neighbors. Four satellites favor their parent’s east side.

The letter designations of Rumford Q and Rumford T indicate the two satellites’ westerly position with respect to their parent. T occupies a westerly location while Q is sited to the southwest of its parent.

Rumford T occurs as its parent’s most proximitous satellite. Its parent’s western rim overlies satellite T’s eastern rim. T holds the most westerly position in the Rumford Crater system.

Rumford T is centered at minus 28.54 degrees south latitude, minus 172.15 degrees west longitude. The satellite post northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 26.7 degrees south and minus 30.38 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes are found at minus 170.05 degrees west and minus 174.24 degrees west, respectively. Rumford T’s diameter spans 111.67 kilometers.

Rumford T’s diameter qualifies it as the largest of the Rumford Crater system’s six satellites and, indeed, as the system’s largest crater. Parental Rumford’s diameter of 60.83 kilometers approximates 54.5 percent of satellite T’s 111.67 kilometer-diameter.

Rumford Q claims the most southerly location in the Rumford Crater system. Rumford Q lies to the southwest of its parent and to the south-southeast of Rumford T.

Rumford Q is centered at minus 30.86 degrees south latitude, minus 171.76 degrees west longitude. The satellite records northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 30.38 degrees south and minus 31.34 degrees south, respectively. It registers easternmost and westernmost longitudes of minus 171.2 degrees west and minus 172.32 degrees west, respectively. Rumford Q has a diameter of 29.06 kilometers.

The letter designations of Rumford A, B, C and F reveal their easterly position with respect to their parent. Satellites A, B and C hold northeasterly positions in the Rumford Crater system. Satellite F is found to the east of its parents.

Rumford A is centered at minus 25.16 degrees south latitude, minus 169.09 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost reach at minus 24.66 degrees south latitude marks the Rumford Crater system’s most northerly extent. Rumford A’s southernmost reach touches minus 25.66 degrees south latitude. The satellite obtains easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 168.54 degrees west and minus 169.64 degrees west, respectively. Rumford A’s diameter measures 30.15 kilometers.

Rumford B resides to the near east of Rumford A. Satellite B’s northernmost and southernmost latitudes occur at minus 24.75 degrees south and minus 25.47 degrees south, respectively. It posts easternmost and westernmost longitudes of minus 167.46 degrees west and minus 168.26 degrees west, respectively. Rumford B has a diameter of 22.07 kilometers.

Among the Rumford Crater system’s four easterly satellites, Rumford C is positioned the closest to its parent. Satellite C rests to the southeast of Rumford A, to the south of Rumford B and to the near southeast of its parent.

Rumford C is centered at minus 27.47 degrees south latitude, minus 167.92 degrees west longitude. It records northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 27.04 degrees south and minus 27.9 degrees south, respectively. C registers easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 167.44 degrees west and minus 168.41 degrees west, respectively. Rumford C’s diameter measures 26.09 kilometers.

Rumford F’s placement to the east of its parent qualifies it for the most easterly position in the Rumford Crater system. Rumford F lies to the southeast of Rumford C.

Rumford F is centered at minus 28.75 degrees south latitude, minus 165.03 degrees west longitude. It posts northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 28.54 degrees south and minus 28.96 degrees south, respectively. It finds easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 164.76 degrees west and minus 165.3 degrees west, respectively. Rumford F’s diameter of 14.47 kilometers ranks it as the smallest of the Rumford Crater system’s six satellites and, indeed, as the Rumford system’s smallest crater.

The takeaways for Rumford Crater’s parentage of six satellites on the lunar far side are that two satellites claim westerly placement with respect to their parent; that four satellites favor their parent’s eastern side; that the system’s largest satellite, Rumford T, is larger than its parent; and that parental Rumford’s western rim covers Rumford T’s eastern rim.

Detail of Lunar Astronautical Charts (LAC) 105 shows the Rumford Crater system’s eastern satellites (Rumford A, B, C, F) on the lunar far side; 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 Lunar Astronautical Charts (LAC) 104 shows the Rumford Crater system’s western satellites, Rumford Q and T, on the lunar far side; 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/lac104_wac.pdf

Detail of Lunar Astronautical Charts (LAC) 105 shows the Rumford Crater system’s eastern satellites (Rumford A, B, C, F) on the lunar far side; 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/lac105_wac.pdf

For further information:

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International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Rumford.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5220

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Rumford A.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/12727

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Rumford B.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/12728

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Rumford C.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/12729

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Rumford F.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/12730

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Rumford Q.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/12731

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Rumford T.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/12732

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Target: The Moon.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon.
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