Earth and Space News: January 2024

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Lunar Far Side McCool Crater Honors Columbia Pilot William McCool

Summary: Lunar far side McCool Crater honors Space Shuttle Columbia Pilot William McCool, who perished with his six colleagues on the spaceplane in 2003.

During his first and only spaceflight, William McCool, pilot of Space Shuttle Columbia's 28th mission, STS-107 (Thursday, Jan. 16, to Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003), sits on the space shuttle orbiter's aft flight deck on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003; NASA ID S107E05026: Not subject to copyright, via NASA Image and Video Library

The lunar southern hemisphere's far side McCool Crater honors Space Shuttle Columbia Pilot William Cameron McCool (born William Cameron Graham; Sep. 23, 1961-Feb. 1, 2003), who perished during his first spaceflight, along with his six colleagues, as the shuttle orbiter re-entered Earth's atmosphere on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003.

McCool Crater resides in the southeastern interior of Apollo Crater in a group of seven craters honoring the Space Shuttle Columbia's last crew. Also known as Apollo Basin, the expansive impact crater forms a basin-within-a-basin with its location in the gigantic South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin. Apollo Crater is located in the SPA Basin's northeastern quadrant, according to Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center's mineralogy and petrology specialist, Canadian-American geologist Donald Allen Morrison (July 19, 1936-Jan. 16, 2021), and then Lunar and Planetary Institute postdoctoral researcher, American physicist and planetary geologist D. Benjamin J. Bussey, in their paper, "The Apollo and Korolev basins and the stratigraphy of the lunar crust," presented at the 28th Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference (LPSC 1997), held in Houston, Texas, March 17-21, 1997.

Apollo Crater is centered at minus 35.69 degrees south latitude, minus 151.48 degrees west longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The southern hemisphere crater's northernmost and southernmost latitudes extend from minus 28.12 degrees south to minus 44.19 degrees south, respectively. The worn geologic structure's easternmost and westernmost longitudes stretch from minus 140.58 degrees west and minus 162.07 degrees west, respectively. Apollo Crater's diameter spans 524.23 kilometers.

McCool Crater anchors the most easterly point of the lunar far side's seven Columbia craters. The crater is centered at minus 41.28 degrees south latitude, minus 146.26 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes occur at minus 40.94 degrees south and minus 41.62 degrees south latitude, respectively. It obtains its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 145.81 degrees west and minus 146.71 degrees west, respectively.

McCool Crater's diameter of 20.47 kilometers qualifies it as the second largest of the lunar far side's seven Columbia craters. Commander Rick Husband's crater, with a diameter of 31.26 kilometers, places as the largest Columbia crater.

Husband Crater perches to the northwest of McCool Crater. Its location places Husband Crater as the northernmost of the lunar far side's Columbia craters.

Husband Crater honors Richard "Rick" Douglas Husband (July 12, 1957-Feb. 1, 2003). Logging his second spaceflight, the American fighter pilot and NASA astronaut served as commander of Space Shuttle Columbia's last, tragic flight, Thursday, Jan. 16, to Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003.

Commander Rick Husband's lunar crater is centered at minus 40.32 degrees south latitude, minus 147.84 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes are created at minus 39.85 degrees south and minus 40.78 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes take place at minus 147.17 degrees west and minus 148.51 degrees west, respectively. Husband Crater's diameter measures 31.26 kilometers.

McCool Craters occurs as the most easterly in an aligned series with western neighbors Ramon Crater and M. Anderson Crater. M. Anderson Crater's occupancy of the westernmost point in the series also qualifies as the westernmost point in the group of seven Columbia craters.

Ramon Crater lies closely east of M. Anderson Crater and more distantly west of McCool Crater. Ramon Crater honors Ilan Ramon (born Ilan Wolferman; June 20, 1954-Feb 1, 2003). The Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot and first Israeli astronaut served as Space Shuttle Columbia's Payload Specialist for his first and only spaceflight.

Ramon Crater is centered at minus 41.23 degrees south latitude, minus 148.08 degrees west longitude. Ramon Crater expresses its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 40.97 degrees south and minus 41.49 degrees south, respectively. It indicates easternmost and westernmost longitudes of minus 147.71 degrees west and minus 148.45 degrees west, respectively. Ramon Crater has a diameter of 17.23 kilometers.

M. Anderson Crater honors Michael Phillip Anderson (Dec. 25, 1959-Feb. 1, 2003). The United States Air Force officer and NASA astronaut served as Payload Commander and Mission Specialist 3 for his second spaceflight.

M. Anderson Crater is centered at minus 41.21 degrees south latitude, minus 148.99 degrees west longitude. It reveals northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 40.93 degrees south and minus 41.49 degrees south, respectively. It finds its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 148.62 degrees west and minus 149.36 degrees west, respectively. M. Anderson Crater has a diameter of 16.94 kilometers.

Craters named for Space Shuttle Columbia's seven fallen astronaut occur in the southeastern interior of Apollo Crater, also known as Apollo Basin, an enormous impact crater in the southern hemisphere on the lunar far side; Moon 1:10 million-scale Shaded Relief and Color-coded Topography: via Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

D. Brown Crater approaches McCool Crater closely from the southwest as McCool Crater's nearest Columbia neighbor. D. Brown Crater dips to the southeast of Ramon Crater.

D. Brown Crater honors David McDowell Brown (April 16, 1956-Feb. 1, 2003). The United States Navy captain and NASA astronaut served as Mission Specialist 1 on Space Shuttle Columbia's 28th and final mission, which also qualified as Brown's first and last spaceflight.

D. Brown Crater is centered at minus 41.65 degrees south latitude, minus 147.16 degrees west longitude. It records northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 41.38 degrees south and minus 41.91 degrees south, respectively. It registers easternmost and westernmost longitudes of minus 146.80 degrees west and minus 147.52 degrees west, respectively. D. Brown Crater has a diameter of 16.12 kilometers.

Chawla and L. Clark craters lie south of D. Brown Crater and distantly southwest of McCool Crater. Chawla and L. Clark craters form a fairly straight north-south alignment with D. Brown Crater. Chawla Crater distinguishes the trio's approximate midpoint. L. Clark Crater's location south of Chawla Crater marks the trio's southern end and also qualifies as the southernmost among the lunar far side's Columbia craters.

Chawla Crater honors first Indian female astronaut and first Indian-American astronaut Kalpana "K.C." Chawla (March 17, 1962-Feb. 1, 2003). For her second spaceflight, the aerospace engineer, aerobatic pilot and NASA astronaut served as Mission Specialist 2 on Space Shuttle Columbia's last, fatal mission.

Chawla Crater is centered at minus 42.48 degrees south latitude, minus 147.49 degrees west longitude. It confirms its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 42.24 degrees south and minus 42.71 degrees south, respectively. It affirms its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 147.17 degrees west and minus 147.80 degrees west, respectively.

Chawla Crater's diameter measures 14.25 kilometers. Its unassuming size qualifies Chawla Crater as the smallest of the lunar far side's Columbia Craters.

L. Clark Crater honors Laurel Blair Salton Clark (March 10, 1961-Feb. 1, 2003). For her first and only spaceflight, the American Naval Flight Surgeon and NASA astronaut served as Mission Specialist 4 on Space Shuttle Columbia's fatal 58th mission.

L. Clark Crater is centered at minus 43.34 degrees south latitude, minus 147.70 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes are arrived at minus 43.08 degrees south and minus 43.59 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes are ascertained at minus 147.35 degrees west and minus 148.04 degrees west, respectively. L. Clark Crater has a diameter of 15.30 kilometers.

The International Astronomical Union officially approved McCool Crater’s name in 2006, during the organization’s XXVIth (26th) General Assembly, held Monday, Aug. 14, to Friday, Aug. 25, in Prague, Czech Republic. The official name adoption occurred as a batch posthumous approval of all seven Columbia lunar craters.

In a press release issued Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, the United States Navy reported a posthumous promotion for the American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, aeronautical engineer and NASA astronaut. Cuban-American entrepreneur and retired United States Navy commander Carlos Del Toro (born 1961), serving as the 78th Secretary of the Navy since Aug. 9, 2021, announced the promotion of William "Willie" McCool from naval commander to captain during halftime at the Navy-North Texas football gameSecretary Del Toro announced the promotion during halftime at the Navy-North Texas football game at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, central Maryland.

Detail of Lunar Aeronautical Chart (LAC) 121 shows the seven southern hemisphere craters honoring Pilot William McCool and his six Space Shuttle Columbia colleagues in the lunar far side's Apollo Basin: 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.

Image credits:

Arizona State University Apollo Image Archive. "Featured Image -- 07/14/2009 Aitken Crater." ASU (Arizona State University) SER (Space Exploration Resources) Apollo Image Archive > Featured Image List.
Available @ http://apollo.sese.asu.edu/LIW/20090714.html

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Apollo.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010, 12:00 p.m.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/326

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Borman.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010, 12:00 p.m.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/827

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Chawla.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010, 12:00 p.m.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14139

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “D. Brown.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010, 12:00 p.m.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14138

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Husband.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010, 12:00 p.m.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14140

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “L. Clark.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010, 12:00 p.m.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14143

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “M. Anderson.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Feb. 1, 2011, 2:19 p.m.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14137

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “McCool.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010, 12:00 p.m.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14141

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Ramon.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010, 12:00 p.m.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14142

Marriner, Derdriu. "Ilan Ramon Had Moon Landscape Drawing by Petr Ginz on Columbia Shuttle." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/01/ilan-ramon-had-moon-landscape-drawing.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Lunar Far Side Husband Crater Honors Columbia Commander Rick Husband." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/01/lunar-far-side-husband-crater-honors.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Lunar Far Side Ramon Crater Honors First Israeli Astronaut Ilan Ramon." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/01/lunar-far-side-ramon-crater-honors.html

The Moon Wiki. “Apollo.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > A Nomenclature.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Apollo

The Moon Wiki. “Borman.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > B Nomenclature.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Borman

The Moon Wiki. “Chawla.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > C Nomenclature.
Available @ http://the-moon.us/wiki/Chawla

The Moon Wiki. “D. Brown.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > D Nomenclature.
Available @ http://the-moon.us/wiki/D._Brown

The Moon Wiki. “Husband.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > H Nomenclature.
Available @ http://the-moon.us/wiki/Husband

The Moon Wiki. “L. Clark.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > L Nomenclature.
Available @ http://the-moon.us/wiki/L._Clark

The Moon Wiki. “M. Anderson.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > M Nomenclature.
Available @ http://the-moon.us/wiki/M._Anderson

The Moon Wiki. “McCool.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > M Nomenclature.
Available @ http://the-moon.us/wiki/McCool

The Moon Wiki. “Ramon.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > R Nomenclature.
Available @ http://the-moon.us/wiki/Ramon

Morrison, Donald A. (Allen); and D. Ben J. Bussey. "The Apollo and Korolev basins and the stratigraphy of the lunar crust." Pages 987-988. Lunar and Planetary Science XXVIII: Abstracts of Papers Submitted to the Twenty-eighth Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 17-21, 1997, Part 2 P-Z (1057-1638). Houston TX: Lunar and Planetary Institute, 1997.
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1997LPI....28..987M
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ https://adsabs.harvard.edu/pdf/1997LPI....28..987M

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. "David Brown, Mission Specialist." National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Biographies.html
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Profiles/Brown.htm
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Biographies/Brown%20Astronaut%20Bio%20Data.htm

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. "Ilan Ramon, Payload Specialist." National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Available via NASA @ https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ramon.pdf
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Biographies.html
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Profiles/Ramon.htm
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Biographies/PAYLOA%7E1.HTM

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. "Michael P. Anderson, Payload Commander." National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Biographies.html
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Profiles/Anderson.htm
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Biographies/anderson_biodata.htm

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. "Kalpana Chawla, Mission Specialist." National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Biographies.html
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Profiles/Chawla.htm
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Biographies/ASTRON%7E1.HTM

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. "Laurel Blair Salton Clark, Mission Specialist." National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Biographies.html
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Profiles/Clark.htm
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Biographies/Clark%20Astronaut%20Bio%20Data.htm

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. "Rick D. Husband, Commander." National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Biographies.html
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Profiles/Husband.htm
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Biographies/ASTRON%7E2.HTM

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. "William C. McCool, Pilot." National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Biographies.html
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Profiles/McCool.htm
Available via NASA History @ https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Biographies/McCool%20Astronaut%20Bio%20Data.htm

Robinson, Mark. "Challenger Astronauts Memorialized on the Moon." ASU (Arizona State University) SESE (School of Earth and Space Exploration) LROC (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera) > Posts. Jan. 28, 2011.
Available via ASU SESE LROC @ http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/posts/281

United States Navy. "SECNAV Del Toro Awards Posthumous Promotion to Cmdr. William C. McCool." United States Navy > Press Office > Press Releases. Oct. 7, 2023.
Available via U.S. Navy @ https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3551667/secnav-del-toro-awards-posthumous-promotion-to-cmdr-william-c-mccool/

van der Hucht, Karel, ed. XXVIth General Assembly Transactions of the IAU Vol. XXVI B Proceedings of the 26th General Assembly Prague, Czech Republic, August 14-25, 2006. Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press, Dec. 30, 2008. Available @ https://www.iau.org/publications/iau/transactions_b/

Monday, January 29, 2024

X The Life and Times of Malcolm X is the Feb. 3, 2024, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Anthony Davis's X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X airs Feb. 3, 2024, as ninth of the 2023-2024 season's 21 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts.

Anthony Davis's X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X is the Feb. 3, 2024, Met Opera Saturday broadcast, airing at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time as the ninth of the 2023-2024 season's lineup of 21 Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X by American composer and pianist Anthony Davis (born February 20, 1951) received eight performances in the 2023-2024 season. The opera's Metropolitan Opera premiere took place Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The second through eighth, closing performances were held Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 11, at 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday matinee, Nov. 18, at 1:00 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 24, at 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 2, at 8:00 p.m. The Feb. 3, 2024, Saturday matinee radio broadcast airs the opera's fifth performance, which took place Saturday, Nov. 18.

Kazem Abdullah (born July 4, 1979) conducted all eight performances. The American conductor had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in the opera company's 92nd performance of Orfeo ed Euridice by German classical composer Christoph von Gluck (July 2, 1714-Nov. 15, 1787). His conductorship adds a third opera to his Met Opera portfolio.

Will Liverman (born May 10, 1988) appeared in all eight performances in the title role of assassinated American civil rights leader Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little; May 19, 1925-Feb. 21, 1965). The American operatic baritone had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, as Malcom Fleet in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Marnie by American contemporary classical music composer Nico Asher Muhly (born Aug. 26, 1981). His appearances in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X added a fifth opera to his Met Opera portfolio.

Leah Hawkins appeared in all eight performances in two roles as Louise Little, Malcolm X's mother, and as Betty, Malcolm X's wife. The American soprano had made her Met Opera debut Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, as an Alms Collector in the opera company's 75th performance of Suor Angelica by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). Her appearances as Louise/Betty added a sixth opera to her Met Opera portfolio.

Raehann Bryce-Davis (born May 17, 1986) appeared in all eight performances as Ella, Malcolm X's older half-sister. The American mezzo-soprano had made her Met Opera debut Monday, May 30, 2022, as Baba the Turk in the opera company's 27th performance of The Rake's Progress by Russian-born composer, conductor and pianist Igor Stravinsky (June 17, 1882-April 6, 1971). Her appearances as Ella added a second opera to her Met Opera portfolio.

Victor Ryan Robertson appeared in all eight performances in two roles as Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam, and as Street, Malcolm X's metaphysical guide to nightlife hustling in Boston. The American tenor had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, as Raoul de St. Brioche in the opera company's 41st performance of The Merry Widow by Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár (April 30, 1870-Oct. 24, 1948). His appearances in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X added a second opera to his Met Opera portfolio.

Michael Sumuel appeared in all performances as Reginald, Malcolm X's brother. The American bass-baritone had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, as the King in the opera company's ninth performance of Cendrillon by French Romantic Era composer Jules Massenet (May 12, 1842-Aug. 13, 1912).

Robert O'Hara (born 1970) directed the 2023-2024 season's Metropolitan Opera premiere of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. The opera's premiere marked the American director and playwright's Met Opera debut.

Robert O'Hara's production team comprised Clint Ramos, set designer; Dede Ayite, costume designer; Alex Jainchill, lighting designer; Yee Eun Nam, projection designer; Mia Neal, wig designer; and Rickey Tripp, choreographer. The production team's designers and choreographer all made their Met Opera debuts in the opera's Metropolitan Opera premiere on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

The 2023-2024 season's 10th Saturday matinee broadcast is themed for Wednesday, Feb. 14, Valentine's Day. The program, "Valentines From the Met: Great Love Duets," features "Romantic moments in memorable performances from the Met's radio archives." The valentine broadcast airs Feb. 10 at 1:00 p.m.

Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera airs at 1:00 p.m. on the following Saturday, Feb. 17, as the 2023-2024 season's 11th Saturday matinee broadcast. The Feb. 17 broadcast replays a performance from autumn 2023.

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Kazem Abdullah conducts all eight performances of the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Anthony Davis's new production of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X; photo by Marty Sohl / Met Opera: The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook Oct. 27, 2023, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid02ESahTNFrbqXRNKhpUBAmUfcrypXA4VGkm4L625NVk5zm3e9qfSvwMkvNtN3SNEoFl

"X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X" was composed by Anthony Davis (born Feb. 20, 1951), with the libretto written by his cousin, Thulani (Barbara Neal Davis; born July 19, 1949) and based upon the story by Anthony's brother, Christopher: (left to right) Anthony, Christopher and Thulani: The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook Nov. 2, 2023, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid037A3eUneZUHxRigBevvKstShuAjt6wfjMBxiWVpp2GCG64P31z8oZtoSMpNBcpVhEll

For further information:

"Debut: Kazem Abdullah." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352831 Orfeo ed Euridice Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, January 28, 2009 Broadcast. Debut: Kazem Abdullah. Orfeo ed Euridice (92) Christoph Willibald Gluck / Ranieri de' Calzabigi.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0384187

"Debut: Kazem Abdullah." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352831 Orfeo ed Euridice {92} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/28/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352831

"Debut : Michael Sumuel, Michael Anchel, Jonah Hoskins." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357532 Cendrillon Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, December 17, 2021. Debut: Michael Sumuel, Michael Anchel, Jonah Hoskins. Cendrillon (9) Jules Massenet / Henri Cain.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0386899

"Debut: Raehann Bryce-Davis." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357662 The Rake's Progress Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, May 30, 2022 Broadcast. Debut: Raehann Bryce-Davis. The Rake's Progress (27) Igor Stravinsky / Chester Kallmann/W.H. Auden.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0387047

"Debut: Robert Spanno, Will Liverman, Marie Te Hapuku, Stacey Tappan, Gabriel Gurevich, Peabody Southwell, Arianne Phillips, Lynee Page." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357019 United States Premiere, New Production Marnie Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, October 19, 2018 Broadcast. Debut: Robert Spanno, Will Liverman, Marie Te Hapuku, Stacey Tappan, Gabriel Gurevich, Peabody Southwell, Arianne Phillips, Lynee Page. Marnie (1) Nico Muhly / Nicholas Wright.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0386480

"Debut: Ward Stare, Victor Ryan Robertson, Elizabeth Brooks, Amanda Kloots, Anne Horak." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356822 The Merry Widow Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, December 14, 2017 Broadcast. Debut: Ward Stare, Victor Ryan Robertson, Elizabeth Brooks, Amanda Kloots, Anne Horak. In English. The Merry Widow (41) Franz Lehár / Viktor Léon/Leo Stein.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0386300

"Debuts: Brian Michael Moore, YI Li, Jessica Faselt, Sharon Azrieli, Leah Hawkins, Kristina Mkhitaryan." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357063 Il Trittico {75} Il Tabarro {81} Suor Angelica {75} Gianni Schicchi {139} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/23/2018.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357063

"Debuts: Matthew Anchel, Jonah Hoskins, Michael Sumuel." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357532 Cendrillon {9} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/17/2021. (Debuts: Matthew Anchel, Jonah Hoskins, Michael Sumuel Broadcast/Streamed). December 17, 2021. Abridged version in English.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357532

“Debuts: Robert Spano, Marie Te Hapuku, Stacey Tappan, Peabody Southwell, Gabriel Gurevich, Adrienne Phillips, Lynne Page, Will Liverman.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357028 Marnie {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/19/2018.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357038

Marriner, Derdriu. "Met Opera Calendars 2023-2024 Season Operas Sep. 26 Through June 8." Earth and Space News. Monday, Sep. 18, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/09/met-opera-calendars-2023-2024-season.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Met Opera Newly Stages Carmen and La Forza del Destino in 2023-2024." Earth and Space News. Monday, Sep. 11, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/09/met-opera-newly-stages-carmen-and-la.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "The Metropolitan Opera Performs 18 Operas in the 2023-2024 Season." Earth and Space News. Monday, Aug. 21, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-metropolitan-opera-performs-18.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Metropolitan Opera Revives 12 Productions in 2023-2024 Season." Earth and Space News. Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/metropolitan-opera-revives-12.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Saturday Matinee Broadcasts Include Six Special Programs in 2023-2024." Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/saturday-matinee-broadcasts-include-six.html

The Metropolitan Opera. "Maestro Kazem Abdullah has been rehearsing the MET Orchestra Musicians ahead of the Met premiere Anthony Davis and librettist Thulani Davis’s X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. Do you have your tickets yet? Baritone Will Liverman leads an exceptional cast of breakout artists and young Met stars in Robert O’Hara’s new production. On stage November 3–December 2. In cinemas November 18. Book your tickets: bit.ly/3JCSWGp Find your cinema: bit.ly/3SeUV8X Photos by Marty Sohl / Met Opera." Facebook. Oct. 27, 2023.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid02ESahTNFrbqXRNKhpUBAmUfcrypXA4VGkm4L625NVk5zm3e9qfSvwMkvNtN3SNEoFl

The Metropolitan Opera. "Meet the family that turned Malcolm X’s life into an opera. The New York Times recently sat down with Anthony, Christopher, and Thulani Davis to talk about their collaboration on X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. Read the full story: bit.ly/3sfOWWC On stage November 3–December 2. In cinemas November 18. Book your tickets: bit.ly/3JCSWGp Find your cinema: bit.ly/3SeUV8X." Facebook. Nov. 2, 2023.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid037A3eUneZUHxRigBevvKstShuAjt6wfjMBxiWVpp2GCG64P31z8oZtoSMpNBcpVhEl

The Metropolitan Opera. "The Metropolitan Opera announces its 2023–24 season, with the most new works in the company’s modern history." The Metropolitan Opera > About > Press Releases. Feb. 22, 2023.
Available @ https://www.metopera.org/about/press-releases/the-metropolitan-opera-announces-its-202324-season-with-the-most-new-works-in-the-companys-modern-history/

"Metropolitan Opera Premiere: X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 387331 Metropolitan Opera Premiere X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, November 3, 2023 Broadcast. Debut: Tracy Cox, Robert O’Hara, Clint Ramos, Dede Ayite, Alex Jainchill, Yee Eun Nam, Mia Neal, Rickey Tripp, Mia Neal, Rickey Tripp. In English. X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (1) Anthony Davis / Thulani Davis.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0387331

Friday, January 26, 2024

Kate Mosse Adds A Fictitious Place to Real Places in The Winter Ghosts

Summary: Kate Mosse adds a fictitious place to real places in The Winter Ghosts, historical fiction novel about Good Christians in 14th-century southwestern France.

"God talks to human beings through many vectors: through each other, through organized religion, through the great books of those religions, through wise people, through art and music and literature and poetry, but nowhere with such detail and grace and color and joy as through creation. When we destroy a species, when we destroy a special place, we're diminishing our capacity to sense the divine, understand who God is and what our own potential is." Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., April 19, 2023, Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts.

“And there’s many people out there who want us to move to the next planet already and I’m like, hang on, let’s not give up on this planet yet," William, Prince of Wales, July 31, 2023, Sorted Food food truck, London, England, United Kingdom.

Languedoc ("language of [Occitan oc for] yes") accommodates one fictitious place, Nulle village, and quite a few real places in The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse. Graphic art by Brian Gallagher accommodates the fictitious Nulle and real places, such as la Tour du Castella in the chapter Tarascon-sur-Ariège. That chapter acknowledges other real places addressed by central character Frederick Watson with its Montebello 1915 champagne bottle and glass.; 1747 map of Languedoc: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Kate Mosse adds a fictitious place to real places in The Winter Ghosts, historical fiction novel about Good Christians, as Albigensians and Cathars (from Greek καθαροί, “pure ones”), in 14th-century southwestern France.

Front pages bear south, east, west of Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, as first-broached places Ax, Foix, Tarascon eastward from Ariège river and fictitious Nulle, real Toulouse westward. Toulouse configures Place du Capitole (“Square of the Capitol”), rue des Pénitents Gris (“Street of the Repentant Grays”) and rue du Taur (“Street of the Bull”). Pink-bricked Toulouse domiciles cathedral of Saint-Sernin (“Saint Saturnin [died 257]”), fictitious Librairie Saurat (“bookstore smoke”) and ruelles (“streetlets”) northwest of Tarascon (“dragon”) in Pyrenees (“fruit-stone”) foothills.

Tarascon entertains Avenue de Foix (“Avenue of Fox”); boulangerie (“bakery”), café, Grand Hôtel de la Poste, mercerie (“haberdashery”), pâtisserie (“pastry-shop”) businesses; and Pont Vieux (“bridge old”).

Quai de l’Ariège (“wharf of the gold-bearing [river]”) figures before quartier Mazel-Viel (“neighborhood slaughterhouse old”), cloche-mur (“bell tower-wall”) and place des Consuls (“Square of the Consuls”).

La Tour du Castella (“the Tower of the Fortress”) guides Frederick Watson to quartier Saint-Roch (“neighborhood of Saint-Rock” [1295?/1348?-Aug. 15/16, 1327?/1376?/1379?) and Château Piquemal (“castle proud-one?”). Saint-Rock neighborhood houses quartier de la Gare (“neighborhood of the train-station”) even as Faubourg Sainte-Quitterie (“outside-town Saint-Red-One”) has bar crowds whose future focus heads Freddie Vicdessos-ward. Saint-Rock neighborhood houses quartier de la Gare (“neighborhood of the train-station”) even as Faubourg Sainte-Quitterie (“outside-town Saint-Red-One”) has bar crowds whose future focus heads Freddie Vicdessos-ward.

Kate Mosse in The Winter Ghosts joins fictitious place Nulle (“nobody”), with place de l’Église, bistro-café, pharmacie, tabac, and such real places as Vicdessos (“village above”).

Telegraphlessness kindles message-carrying keeping hotel M & Mme Galy (“Mr. and Mrs. Rooster”) boarders in Vicdessos knowing about Ax-les Thermes (“water-the hot springs”) and vice versa.

The place de l’Église leads, for la fête de Saint-Étienne (“the feast of Saint-Stephen” [AD 5-34]), to Nulle Ostal (“townhall”), whose below-ground tunnel leads westward outside. Real Montaillou (“mount of the springs”?), southward of Loire Valley (“sediment, silt”), mandates one-day move from fictitious Nulle and to real Pamiers (“latest, nestling, youngest”?). Eastward from Nulle village the Pyrenean foothills niche the Lombrives (“shadowy”) and the Niaux (“snow”?) caves, from which Fabrissa and Frederick Watson note Roc de Sédour.

Two paths overlap on Nulle-area westward ledging, observable from an eastward dewpond and orientable to caves offering Cathars sanctuary, in The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse.

Miglòs (“country of fox[es]”?), as a place that perseveres amid mining-punished mountainsides, preserves no path to the cave that provides Frederick Watson an ancient OccItan parchment.

Vicdessos valley quarters such villages as the real Allat, Capoulet-et-Junac and Lapège even as it queues between the fictitious Nulle village and the real Foix hospital. No caves relieved Flanders’ Passchendaele, Ypres; France’s Arras, Loos, Somme; France’s Boar’s Head Hill, Ferme du Bois, Richebourg-l’Avoué; France’s Le Vernet; France’s Pas-de-Calais, upper-Loire Valley, Verdun. Subverted sanctuary saddens Freddie sheltering Chichester Cathedral, East Dean, Eastgate Square, Fortnum & Mason’s, Lavant, London East End, Lyric Theatre, Midhurst, Piccadilly, Savile Row, Sussex souvenirs.

The fictitious place Nulle tells for 14th-century real places, still 20th-century real 600 years later, the true tragedy that Kate Mosse transmits in The Winter Ghosts.

Lombrives, Niaux and Sabart caves affirm themselves as allied within an ancient cave system even as only Lombrives and Niaux caves allow back-and-forth access to one another since ancient times. Ancient human access never allowed anything antagonistic to that access even as The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse memorializes what amounted to fatal antagonism to Cathar access in the 14th century; Brno Museum's replica of bisons from the Black Hall (Salon noir) of the Niaux cave: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Dictionnaire de l’Occitan Médiéval. DOM en ligne. Munich, Germany: Bavarian Academy of Sciences..
Available @ https://dom-en-ligne.de/dom.php?lhid=4dqN83calp4xbiz5Nsx8Wu

Lepage, Denis. 2024. Avibase – Bird Checklists of the World France.” Avibase – The World Bird Database > Checklists > Avibase – Bird Checklists of the World > Europe > France.
Available @ https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=FR

Marriner, Derdriu. 19 January 2024. "Kate Mosse Assembles Fictitious and Real People in The Winter Ghosts." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/01/kate-mosse-assembles-fictitious-and.html

Mosse, Kate. October 2009. The Winter Ghosts. London UK: Orion Publishing Group.

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Lunar Far Side Husband Crater Honors Columbia Commander Rick Husband

Summary: Lunar far side Husband Crater honors Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband, who perished with his six colleagues on the spaceplane in 2003.

During his second spaceflight, Rick Husband, commander of Space Shuttle Columbia's 28th mission, STS-107 (Thursday, Jan. 16, to Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003), sits in the commander's station on the space shuttle orbiter's forward flight deck on Friday, Jan. 17, 2003; NASA ID S107E05003: Not subject to copyright, via NASA Image and Video Library

The lunar southern hemisphere's far side Husband Crater honors Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Richard "Rick" Douglas Husband (July 12, 1957-Feb. 1, 2003), who perished during his second spaceflight, along with his six colleagues, as the shuttle orbiter re-entered Earth's atmosphere on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003.

Husband Crater nestles in the southeastern interior of Apollo Crater with six craters honoring the Space Shuttle Columbia's last crew. Also known as Apollo Basin, the extensive impact crater forms a basin-within-a-basin with its location in the vast South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin. Apollo Crater lies in the SPA Basin's northeastern quadrant, according to Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center's mineralogy and petrology specialist, Canadian-American geologist Donald Allen Morrison (July 19, 1936-Jan. 16, 2021), and then Lunar and Planetary Institute postdoctoral researcher, American physicist and planetary geologist D. Benjamin J. Bussey, in their paper, "The Apollo and Korolev basins and the stratigraphy of the lunar crust," presented at the 28th Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference (LPSC 1997), held in Houston, Texas, March 17-21, 1997.

Apollo Crater is centered at minus 35.69 degrees south latitude, minus 151.48 degrees west longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The southern hemisphere crater's northernmost and southernmost latitudes stretch from minus 28.12 degrees south to minus 44.19 degrees south, respectively. The worn geologic structure's easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach minus 140.58 degrees west and minus 162.07 degrees west, respectively. Apollo Crater's diameter spans 524.23 kilometers.

Commander Rick Husband's lunar crater is centered at minus 40.32 degrees south latitude, minus 147.84 degrees west longitude. It records northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 39.85 degrees south and minus 40.78 degrees south, respectively. The crater registers its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 147.17 degrees west and minus 148.51 degrees west, respectively. Husband Crater's diameter measures 31.26 kilometers.

Borman Crater resides as the closest named crater in Husband Crater's neighborhood. The sharp-edged impact crater honors Frank Frederick Borman II (born March 14, 1928). The career Air Force officer (1950-1970) was a veteran of two NASA spaceflights. He served as Command Pilot of Gemini VII (Dec. 4, 1965-Dec. 18, 1965) and as Commander of Apollo 8 (Dec. 21–Dec. 27, 1968).

Borman Crater appears as predominantly level-floored in its northern half and as noticeably rough-floored in its southern half. It is centered at minus 39.06 degrees south latitude, minus 148.25 degrees west longitude. Borman logs northernmost and southernmost latitudes of mnus 38.26 degrees south and minus 39.87 degrees south, respectively. It sets its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 147.23 degrees west and minus 149.28 degrees west, respectively. Borman Crater's diameter spans 50.72 kilometers.

M. Anderson and Ramon craters qualify as Husband Crater's closest Columbia neighbors. Husband Crater is positioned to the northeast of M. Anderson Crater and to the north of Ramon Crater.

M. Anderson Crater is centered at minus 41.21 degrees south latitude, minus 148.99 degrees west longitude. It achieves northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 40.93 degrees south and minus 41.49 degrees south, respectively. It expresses its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 148.62 degrees west and minus 149.36 degrees west, respectively. M. Anderson Crater has a diameter of 16.94 kilometers.

Ramon Crater honors Ilan Ramon (born Ilan Wolferman; June 20, 1954-Feb 1, 2003). The Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot and first Israeli astronaut served as Space Shuttle Columbia's Payload Specialist for his first and only spaceflight.

Ramon Crater is centered at minus 41.23 degrees south latitude, minus 148.08 degrees west longitude. Ramon Crater establishes its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 40.97 degrees south and minus 41.49 degrees south, respectively. It posts easternmost and westernmost longitudes of minus 147.71 degrees west and minus 148.45 degrees west, respectively. Ramon Crater has a diameter of 17.23 kilometers.

McCool Crater fans to the southeast of Husband Crater. Fairly straight center-to-center alignments to the east of M. Anderson and Ramon craters qualify McCool Crater as the most easterly of the lunar far side's seven Columbia craters.

McCool Crater honors American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, aeronautical engineer and NASA astronaut William Cameron McCool (born William Cameron Graham; Sep. 23, 1961-Feb. 1, 2003). McCool's position as the STS-107 mission's Pilot marked his first and only spaceflight.

McCool Crater is centered at minus 41.28 degrees south latitude, minus 146.26 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes exist at minus 40.94 degrees south and minus 41.62 degrees south latitude, respectively. The easternmost of Columbia-honorific lunar craters marks its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at minus 145.81 degrees west and minus 146.71 degrees west, respectively. McCool Crater has a diameter of 20.47 kilometers.

D. Brown Crater dips to the southeast of Husband Crater. It closely neighbors with Ramon Crater to the northwest and McCool Crater to the northeast.

D. Brown Crater is centered at minus 41.65 degrees south latitude, minus 147.16 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes are affirmed at minus 41.38 degrees south and minus 41.91 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes are mapped at minus 146.80 degrees west and minus 147.52 degrees west, respectively. D. Brown Crater has a diameter of 16.12 kilometers.

Chawla and L. Clark craters lie distantly southeast of Husband Crater. They form a fairly straight north-south alignment with D. Brown Crater. Chawla Crater approximately marks the trio's midpoint. L. Clark Crater's position as the trio's southern anchor qualifies as the southernmost among the lunar far side's Columbia craters.

Chawla Crater is centered at minus 42.48 degrees south latitude, minus 147.49 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes are confirmed at minus 42.24 degrees south and minus 42.71 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes range from minus 147.17 degrees west to minus 147.80 degrees west, respectively.

Chawla Crater has a diameter of 14.25 kilometers. Its compactness qualifies Chawla Crater as the smallest of the lunar far side's Columbia Craters.

L. Clark Crater is centered at minus 43.34 degrees south latitude, minus 147.70 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes are demarcated at minus 43.08 degrees south and minus 43.59 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes are recognized at minus 147.35 degrees west and minus 148.04 degrees west, respectively. L. Clark Crater has a diameter of 15.30 kilometers.

The International Astronomical Union officially approved Husband Crater’s name in 2006, during the organization’s XXVIth (26th) General Assembly, held Monday, Aug. 14, to Friday, Aug. 25, in Prague, Czech Republic. The IAU's approval also encompassed the group of six nearby southern neighbors provisionally named for Rick Husband's STS-107 colleagues.

Detail of Lunar Aeronautical Chart (LAC) 121 shows the seven southern hemisphere craters honoring Commander Rick Husband and his six Space Shuttle Columbia colleagues in the lunar far side's Apollo Basin: 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.

Image credits:

Marriner, Derdriu. "Ilan Ramon Had Moon Landscape Drawing by Petr Ginz on Columbia Shuttle." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024.
Available @

Marriner, Derdriu. "Lunar Far Side Ramon Crater Honors First Israeli Astronaut Ilan Ramon." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.
Available @