Ruth Resides in East Central Oceanus Procellarum on Lunar Near Side

Summary: Ruth resides in east central Oceanus Procellarum on the lunar near side in a northwestern quadrant duo with Rocco near Krieger Crater's eastern rim.

Detail of Near Side Shaded Relief and Color-Coded Topography Map shows Ruth's (center right) Krieger Crater neighborhood in lunar near side's east central Oceanus Procellarum: USGS Astrogeology Science Center / Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Ruth resides in east central Oceanus Procellarum on the lunar near side as a northwestern quadrant duo with northeastern neighbor Rocco near the eastern rim of Krieger Crater.

Ruth is centered at 28.71 degrees north latitude, minus 45.06 degrees west longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union's (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The northwestern quadrant craterlet finds its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 28.76 degrees north and 28.66 degrees north, respectively. It establishes its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 45.01 degrees west and minus 45.12 degrees west, respectively. Ruth Craterlet has a diameter of 3.08 kilometers.

Ruth is situated in east central Oceanus Procellarum. The craterlet's location places it to the southwest of the highland break that marks the meeting of east central Oceanus Procellarum with west central Mare Imbrium.

Oceanus Procellarum ranks as the largest of the moon's dark basaltic plains, known as maria (Latin: "seas"; mare, "sea"). Procellarum's unique designation as oceanus recognizes the plain's immensity. Oceanus Procellarum sprawls across the near side's northwestern and southwestern quandrants.

Oceanus Procellarum ("Ocean of Storms") is centered at 20.67 degrees north latitude, minus 56.68 degrees west longitude. The immense, dark, basaltic plain's northernmost and southernmost latitudes extend to 57.43 degrees north and minus 16.27 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach minus 26.85 west and minus 81.08 degrees west, respectively. Oceanus Procellarum's diameter spans 2,592.24 kilometers.

Ruth forms a duo with northeastern craterous neighbor Rocco in east central Oceanus Procellarum. The two craterlets reside near the eastern rim of Krieger Crater.

Rocco is centered at 28.91 degrees north latitude, minus 45 degrees west longitude. Rocco marks its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 28.98 degrees north and 28.84 degrees north, respectively. The craterlet posts easternmost and westernmost longitudes of minus 44.92 degrees west and minus 45.08 degrees west, respectively. Rocco Craterlet's diameter measures 4.35 kilometers.

Krieger Crater is centered at 29.02 degrees north latitude, minus 45.61 degrees west longitude. The lunar impact crater achieves its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 29.4 degrees north and 28.65 degrees north, respectively. It maintains its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 45.18 degrees west and minus 46.04 degrees west, respectively. Krieger Crater's diameter measures 22.87 kilometers.

Van Biesbroeck Crater neighbors to the southwest of Rocco and to the west of Ruth. Van Biesbroeck intrudes across Krieger Crater's southern rim.

Van Biesbroeck is centered at 28.77 degrees north latitude, minus 45.59 degrees west longitude. The small lunar impact crater's northernmost and southernmost latitudes are identified as 28.92 north and 28.62 north, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes are given as minus 45.42 degrees west and minus 45.76 degrees west, respectively. Van Biesbroeck Crater has a diameter of 9.08 kilometers.

Krieger C lies to the southeast of Ruth and Rocco. Krieger C occurs as the Krieger Crater system's solitary satellite.

Krieger C is centered at 27.73 degrees north latitude, minus 44.7 degrees west longitude. The satellite's northernmost and southernmost latitudes are detailed as 27.8 degrees north and 27.66 degrees north, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes are listed as minus 44.62 degrees west and minus 44.78 degrees west, respectively. Krieger C has a diameter of 4.15 kilometers.

Angström Crater lies to the northeast of Ruth and Rocco. The lunar impact crater is located at the border between east central Oceanus Procellarum and west central Mare Imbrium.

Angström Crater is centered at 29.9 degrees north latitude, minus 41.67 degrees west longitude. It obtains its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 30.05 degrees north and 29.74 degrees north, respectively. It places its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 41.49 degrees west and minus 41.85 degrees west, respectively. Angström Crater's diameter measures 9.55 kilometers.

Ruth 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). Ruth is plotted on NASA Lunar Topophotomap 39A1S1, which was published in June 1974. The map's Names Information lists "Rocco, Ruth" as unofficial names used "only for the identification of features on this map."

The International Astronomical Union approved Ruth as the craterlet's official name in 1976. The Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature explains Ruth as: "Hebrew female name."

Detail of Lunar Aeronautical Chart (LAC) 39 shows Ruth's (center) Krieger Crater neighborhood in lunar near side's east central Oceanus Procellarum: 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 Ruth's (center right) Krieger Crater neighborhood in lunar near side's east central Oceanus Procellarum: USGS Astrogeology Science Center / Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VallisSchr%C3%B6teriLOC.jpg

Detail of Lunar Aeronautical Chart (LAC) 39 shows Ruth's (center) Krieger Crater neighborhood in lunar near side's east central Oceanus Procellarum: image credit NASA/GSFC/ASU, via USGS Astrogeology Science Center / Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/Lunar/lac_39_wac.pdf

For further information:

Andersson, Leif E.; and Ewen A. Whitaker. NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature. NASA Reference Publication 1097. Hampton VA: NASA Scientific and Technical Information Branch, October 1982.
Available via NASA NTRS (NASA Technical Reports Server) @ https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19830003761/downloads/19830003761.pdf

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

The Defense Mapping Agency Topographic Center. "Lunar Topophotomap Van Biesbroeck." National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lunar Topophotomap Edition 1 Sheet 39A1S1 (50). Washington DC: The Defense Mapping Agency Topographic Center, June 1974.
Available @ https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/topophoto/39A1S1/150dpi.jpg

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Angström.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/272

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Descriptor Terms (Feature Types).” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Documentation.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/DescriptorTerms

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Krieger.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3120

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Krieger C.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/10441

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Mare Imbrium.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3678

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Oceanus Procellarum.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/4395

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Rocco.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5165

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Ruth.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5237

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Van Biesbroeck.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/6304

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

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