Far Side Roche Crater Honors 19th-Century French Astronomer Édouard Roche

Summary: Lunar far side Roche Crater honors Édouard Roche, a 19th-century French astronomer, celestial mechanics specialist, mathematician and meteorologist.

south-facing, oblique view of Roche Crater (lower), with southern rim superpositioned Pauli Crater (upper); frame 3121, image among 211 photographs obtained by Lunar Orbiter III (LO III) between Wednesday, Feb. 15, and Thursday, Feb. 23, 1967; cropped and created with UploadWizard Monday, May 23, 2016, 03:46: James Stuby (JStuby), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Lunar far side Roche Crater honors Édouard Roche, a 19th-century French astronomer, celestial mechanics specialist, mathematician and meteorologist who focused on the effects of gravitational forces on orbital mechanics.

Worn-rimmed Roche Crater resides in the southern hemisphere on the lunar far side. It is centered at minus 42.37 degrees south latitude, 136.54 degrees east longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. It records northmost and southmost latitudes of minus 39.85 degrees south and minus 44.88 degrees south, respectively. It registers its eastmost and westmost longitudes at 139.96 degrees east and 133.12 degrees east, respectively. Roche Crater's diameter spans 152.67 kilometers.

Pauli Crater sprawls across Roche Crater's southern rim. A ghost crater in the southeastern portion of its lava-flooded interior floor distinguishes Pauli Crater. Roche Crater's superpositioned southern rim-mate is centered at minus 44.76 degrees south latitude, 137.35 degrees east longitude. The intrusive lunar impact crater marks its northmost and southmost latitudes at minus 43.19 degrees south and minus 46.33 degrees south, respectively. It establishes its eastmost and westmost longitudes at 139.56 degrees east and 135.14 degrees east, respectively. Pauli Crater's diameter measures 95.28 kilometers.

Rosseland Crater lies to the west of northwestern Roche Crater. The fairly level interior-floored lunar impact crater is centered at minus 40.82 degrees south latitude, 130.68 degrees east longitude. The lunar southern hemisphere-sited crater posts northmost and southmost latitudes of minus 39.72 degrees south and minus 41.92 degrees south, respectively. It obtains eastmost and westmost longitudes of 132.14 degrees east and 129.25 degrees east, respectively. Rosseland Crater has a diameter of 67.66 kilometers.

Eötvös Crater is sited to the north-northwest of Roche Crater. The lunar impact crater silhouettes with a battered northwestern rim and an indistinct southeastern rim. The lunar southern hemisphere-sited crater is centered at minus 35.61 degrees south latitude, 134.43 degrees east longitude. It achieves its northmost and southmost latitudes at minus 33.93 degrees south and minus 37.29 degrees south, respectively. It lists its eastmost and westmost longitudes at 136.50 degrees east and 132.36 degrees east, respectively. Eötvös Crater's diameter measures 101.80 kilometers.

Verne Crater is located to the northeast of Roche Crater. Worn-rimmed Verne Crater is centered at 24.95 degrees north latitude, minus 25.38 degrees west longitude. The lunar northern hemisphere-sited crater finds its northmost and southmost latitudes as 24.98 degrees north and 24.93 degrees north, respectively. The western hemisphere dweller obtains its eastmost and westmost longitudes at minus 25.35 degrees west and minus 25.41 degrees west, respectively. Verne Crater has a diameter of 1.54 kilometers.

Ramsay Crater is situated to the east-northeast of Roche Crater and to the south-southwest of Verne Crater. A craterlet-notched, worn rim and a low central rise from a mostly featureless interior floor distinguish Ramsay Crater. The lunar southern hemisphere-sited lunar impact crater is centered at minus 40.02 degrees south latitude, 145.04 degrees east longitude. It defines its northmost and southmost latitudes at minus 39.01 degrees south and minus 41.03 degrees south, respectively. It delimits its eastmost and westmost longitudes to 146.36 degrees east and 143.72 degrees east, respectively. Ramsay Crater has a diameter of 61.28 kilometers.

Roche Crater inhabits the cratered terrain to the southwest of Mare Ingenii. The Sea of Cleverness is centered at minus 33.25 degrees south latitude, 164.83 degrees east longitude. The southern hemisphere-sited dark plain's northmost and southmost latitudes extend from minus 28.54 degrees south to minus 37.42 degrees south, respectively. Its eastmost and westmost longitudes stretch from 169.85 degrees east to 158.55 degrees east, respectively. Mare Ingenii's diameter spans 282.20 kilometers.

Roche Crater honors 19th-century French astronomer, celestial mechanics specialist, mathematician and meteorologist Édouard Albert Roche (Oct. 17, 1820-April 27, 1883). His interests in celestial mechanics included studying the effects of gravitational forces on orbital mechanics. The International Astronomical Union officially approved Roche Crater’s name in 1970. The organization’s XIVth (14th) General Assembly was held in 1970 from Tuesday, Aug. 18, to Thursday, Aug. 27, in Brighton, United Kingdom.

south-facing, oblique view of Roche Crater with southern rim superpositioned Pauli Crater (upper center left) and northern neighbor Eötvös Crater (below Roche); frame 3121, image among 211 photographs obtained by Lunar Orbiter III (LO III) between Wednesday, Feb. 15, and Thursday, Feb. 23, 1967: 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.

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:

south-facing, oblique view of Roche Crater (lower), with southern rim superpositioned Pauli Crater (upper); frame 3121, image among 211 photographs obtained by Lunar Orbiter III (LO III) between Wednesday, Feb. 15, and Thursday, Feb. 23, 1967; cropped and created with UploadWizard Monday, May 23, 2016, 03:46: James Stuby (JStuby), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roche_and_Pauli_craters_3121_med.jpg; via Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) Resources @ https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/lunarorbiter/frame/?3121 (frame URL); via Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) Resources @ https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/lunarorbiter/mission/?3 (gallery URL)

south-facing, oblique view of Roche Crater with southern rim superpositioned Pauli Crater (upper center left) and northern neighbor Eötvös Crater (below Roche); frame 3121, image among 211 photographs obtained by Lunar Orbiter III (LO III) between Wednesday, Feb. 15, and Thursday, Feb. 23, 1967: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lunar_Orbiter_3_moon_image.jpg; via Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) Resources @ https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/lunarorbiter/frame/?3121 (frame URL); via Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) Resources @ https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/lunarorbiter/mission/?3 (gallery URL)

For further information:

Ashworth, William B., Jr., Dr. "Scientist of the Day -- Édouard Roche." Linda Hall Library > News > Scientist of the Day > Edouard Roche. Oct. 17, 2019.
Available @ https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/edouard-roche/

Boussinesq, J. (Joseph Valentin). "Notice sur la vie et les travaux de M. Édouard Roche, professeur à la Faculté des sciences de Montpellier, correspondant de l'Institut, membre associé de la Société des sciences de Lille." Pages 17-35. Mémoires de aa Société des Sciences de l'agriculture et des Arts de Lille. 4e série. -- Tome XIV. Lille: L. Quarré, Libraire, 1885.
Available via BnF (Bibliothèque nationale de France) Gallica @ https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k58117762/f19.image.r

Bussey, Ben; and Paul Spudis. The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. Revised and updated edition. First published 2004. Cambridge UK; Cambridge MA: Cambridge University Press, 2012.
Available via Dokumen.PUB @ https://dokumen.pub/qdownload/the-clementine-atlas-of-the-moon-9780521141017-052114101x.html

De Jager, C. (Cornelius) ; and A. (Arnost) Jappel, eds. XIVth General Assembly -- Transactions of the IAU Vol. XIV B Proceedings of the 14th General Assembly Brighton, United Kingdom, August 18-27, 1970. Washington DC: Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Jan. 1, 1971.
Available @ https://www.iau.org/publications/iau/transactions_b/

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Eötvös.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct 18, 2010 12:00 PM.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/1893

International Astronomical Union. “Mare Ingenii.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct 18, 2010 12:00 PM.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3679

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Pauli.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct 18, 2010 12:00 PM.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/4613

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Ramsay.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct 18, 2010 12:00 PM.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/4939

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Roche.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct 18, 2010 12:00 PM.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5166

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Rosseland.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct 18, 2010 12:00 PM.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5196

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Verne.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct 18, 2010 12:00 PM.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/6358

Marriner, Derdriu. "Nine Craters Honor Phobos Finder's Wife and Eight Mars Scientists." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024.
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The Moon Wiki. “Eötvös.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > E Nomenclature.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Eötvös

The Moon Wiki. “Mare Ingenii.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > I Nomenclature.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Mare_Ingenii

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

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

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

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

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

Parsons, Alex; Inkleby. "Mare Ingenii (Moon) 'Sea of Cleverness.'" We Name the Stars > Moon > Feature Type: Mare > Features Associated With Mare: Mare Ingenii.
Available via We Name the Stars @ https://wenamethestars.inkleby.com/feature/3679

Parsons, Alex; Inkleby. "Pauli (Moon) Named after Wolfgang Pauli -- Austrian-American physicist; Nobel laureate (1900-1958)." We Name the Stars > Moon > Feature Type: Crater > Features Associated With Crater: Crater Pauli.
Available via We Name the Stars @ https://wenamethestars.inkleby.com/feature/4613

Parsons, Alex; Inkleby. "Ramsay (Moon) Named after Sir William Ramsay -- British chemist; Nobel laureate (1852-1916)." We Name the Stars > Moon > Feature Type: Crater > Features Associated With Crater: Crater Ramsay.
Available via We Name the Stars @ https://wenamethestars.inkleby.com/feature/4939

Parsons, Alex; Inkleby. "Roche (Moon) Named after Édouard Albert Roche -- French astronomer (1820-1883)." We Name the Stars > Moon > Feature Type: Crater > Features Associated With Crater: Crater Roche.
Available via We Name the Stars @ https://wenamethestars.inkleby.com/feature/51666

Parsons, Alex; Inkleby. "Rosseland (Moon) Named after Svein Rosseland -- Norwegian astrophysicist (1894-1985)." We Name the Stars > Moon > Feature Type: Crater > Features Associated With Crater: Crater Rosseland.
Available via We Name the Stars @ https://wenamethestars.inkleby.com/feature/5196

Parsons, Alex; Inkleby. "Verne (Moon) Latin male name." We Name the Stars > Moon > Feature Type: Crater > Features Associated With Crater: Crater Verne.
Available via We Name the Stars @ https://wenamethestars.inkleby.com/feature/6358