Monira Craterlet Lies in Northern Alphonsus Crater on Lunar Near Side

Summary: Monira Craterlet lies in northern Alphonsus Crater on the lunar near side in a trio with José and Soraya along northeastern Mare Nubium.

Detail of Near Side Shaded Relief and Color-Coded Topography Map shows Monira's (upper right) Alphonsus Crater neighborhood along lunar near side's northeastern Mare Nubium: USGS Astrogeology Science Center / Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Monira Craterlet lies in northern Alphonsus Crater on the lunar near side in a southwestern quadrant trio with José and Soraya along the northeastern edges of Mare Nubium.

Monira is centered at minus 12.54 degrees south latitude, minus 1.73 degrees west longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union's (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The southern hemisphere craterlet establishes its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 12.53 degrees south and minus 12.56 degrees south, respectively. It finds its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 1.71 degrees west and minus 1.75 degrees west, respectively. Monira has a diameter of 1.07 kilometers.

Monira resides on the northeastern interior floor of Alphonsus Crater. The lunar impact crater is located in the highlands that border northeastern Mare Nubium.

Alphonsus Crater is centered at minus 13.39 degrees south latitude, minus 2.85 degrees west longitude. The impact crater obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 11.57 degrees south and minus 15.21 degrees south, respectively. It maintains its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 0.97 degrees west and minus 4.72 degrees west, respectively. Alphonsus Crater's diameter measures 110.54 kilometers.

Mare Nubium ("Sea of Clouds") is centered at minus 20.59 degrees south latitude, minus 17.29 degrees west longitude. The dark, basaltic plain's northernmost and southernmost latitudes reach minus 11.85 degrees south and minus 30.48 degrees south, respectively. It extends its easternmost and westernmost longitudes to minus 5.45 degrees west and minus 29.27 degrees west, respectively. Mare Nubium's diameter spans 714.5 kilometers.

Monira leads a trio of craterlets as interior residents of Alphonsus Crater. José lies to the southwest of Monira, not quite midway between Monira and Soraya.

José is centered at minus 12.68 degrees south latitude, minus 1.66 degrees west longitude. The craterlet posts northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 12.66 degrees south and minus 12.7 degrees south, respectively. It marks its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 1.64 degrees west and minus 1.68 degrees west, respectively. José has a diameter of 1.22 kilometers.

Southernmost trio member Soraya is centered at minus 12.87 degrees south latitude, minus 1.63 degrees west longitude. The craterlet reports northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 12.83 degrees south and minus 12.9 degrees south, respectively. It places its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 1.6 degrees west and minus 1.67 degrees west, respectively. Soraya has a diameter of 1.9 kilometers.

The trio of Monira, José and Soraya are bounded by Alphonsus Crater's northeastern wall to the east and by Rimae Alphonsus to the west. The rille cuts across the eastern edges of the crater's interior floor.

Rimae Alphonsus is centered at minus 13.4 degrees south latitude, minus 1.94 degrees west longitude. The fissure's northernmost and southernmost latitudes are detailed at minus 12.17 degrees south and minus 14.86 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes are identified as minus 1.44 degrees west and minus 2.62 degrees west, respectively. Rimae Alphonsus has a diameter of 87 kilometers.

Ravi neighbors to the northwest of Monira. The craterlet is positioned on Rimae Alphonsus. Ravi's location marks the fissure's northwesterly turning point.

Ravi is centered at minus 12.5 degrees south latitude, minus 1.97 degrees west longitude. The craterlet's northernmost and southernmost latitudes are listed as minus 12.48 degrees south and minus 12.53 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes are given as minus 1.94 degrees west and minus 1.99 degrees west, respectively. Ravi has a diameter of 1.62 kilometers.

Rimae Alphonsus separates Monira from Chang-Ngo. Chang-Ngo lies to the southwest of Monira and of Ravi.

Chang-Ngo is centered at minus 12.69 degrees south latitude, minus 2.16 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes occur at minus 12.65 degrees south and minus 12.72 degrees south, respectively. It obtains its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 2.14 degrees west and minus 2.19 degrees west, respectively. Chang-Ngo has a diameter of 2.34 kilometers.

Monira numbers among 95 minor features identified with first-name designations on lunar topophotomaps prepared and published by The Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Monira is plotted on NASA Lunar Topophotomap 39C2S1, which was published in December 1974. The map's Names Information lists "Chang-Ngo, José, Monira, Ravi, Soraya" as unofficial names used "only for the identification of features on this map."

The International Astronomical Union approved Monira as the craterlet's name in 1976. The Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature originates Monira as: "Arabic female name."

Detail of Lunar Aeronautical Chart (LAC) 77 shows Monira's (upper center) Alphonsus Crater neighborhood in lunar near side's northeastern Mare Nubium: image credit NASA/GSFC/ASU, 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.

Dedication

This post is dedicated to the memory of our beloved blue-eyed brother, Charles, who guided the creation of the Met Opera and Astronomy posts on Earth and Space News. We memorialized our brother in "Our Beloved Blue-Eyed Brother, Charles, With Whom We Are Well Pleased," published on Earth and Space News on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, an anniversary of our beloved father's death.

Image credits:

Detail of Near Side Shaded Relief and Color-Coded Topography Map shows Monira's (upper right) Alphonsus Crater neighborhood along lunar near side's northeastern Mare Nubium: USGS Astrogeology Science Center / Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/moon_nearside.pdf

Detail of Lunar Aeronautical Chart (LAC) 77 shows Monira's (upper center) Alphonsus Crater neighborhood in lunar near side's northeastern Mare Nubium: image credit NASA/GSFC/ASU, via USGS Astrogeology Science Center / Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/Lunar/lac_77_wac.pdf

For further information:

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Available via NASA NTRS (NASA Technical Reports Server) @ https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19830003761/downloads/19830003761.pdf

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The Defense Mapping Agency Topographic Center. "Lunar Topophotomap Fossae Alphonsus." National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lunar Topophotomap Edition 1 Sheet 77D3S1 (50). Washington DC: The Defense Mapping Agency Topographic Center, December 1974.
Available @ https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/topophoto/77D3S1/150dpi.jpg

Elger, Thomas Gwyn. “Alphonsus.” The Moon, A Full Description and Map of Its Principal Physical Features: 94. London UK: George Philip & Son, 1895.
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Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/206

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Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/1135

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Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/DescriptorTerms

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “José.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/1472

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Mare Nubium.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3684

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Monira.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3968

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Ravi.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/4960

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Rimae Alphonsus.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5091

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Soraya.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5652

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Marriner, Derdriu. "Chang-Ngo Lies in Northern Alphonsus Crater on Lunar Near Side." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022.
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Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/José

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Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Ravi

The Moon Wiki. “Rimae Alphonsus.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > D Nomenclature.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Rimae_Alphonsus

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Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Soraya

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