Earth and Space News: Sinus Medii craters

Showing posts with label Sinus Medii craters. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Halley Crater Parents Four Satellites Southeast of Sinus Medii

Summary: Halley Crater parents four satellites southeast of Sinus Medii (Bay of the Center) in the lunar near side’s southeastern quadrant.

Detail of Lunar Astronautical Chart (LAC) 77 shows the lunar near side’s Halley Crater system’s primary crater, Halley, and four satellites; courtesy NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) / GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center) / ASU (Arizona State University): Public Domain, via USGS Astrogeology Science Center / Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Halley Crater parents four satellites southeast of Sinus Medii (Bay of the Center) in the southern equatorial latitudes of the near side’s southeastern quadrant.

Halley Crater is centered at minus 8.05 degrees south latitude, 5.73 degrees east longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The southern hemisphere crater places its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 7.48 degrees south and minus 8.62 degrees south, respectively. The eastern hemisphere crater establishes its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 6.31 degrees east and 5.15 degrees east, respectively. Halley Crater’s diameter spans 34.59 kilometers.

Halley Crater parents a quartet of satellites. Its four satellites assume southerly placements with respect to their parent.

Halley B lies to the west-southwest of its parent. Both Halley Crater and Halley B are positioned as intruders into the southern rim of their western neighbor, Hipparchus Crater. Halley B’s placement qualifies it as the most westerly of the Halley Crater system’s four satellites.

Halley B is centered at minus 8.48 degrees south latitude, 4.45 degrees east longitude. Satellite B confines its northernmost and southernmost latitudes to minus 8.39 degrees south and minus 8.57 degrees south, respectively. It restricts its easternmost and westernmost longitudes to 4.55 degrees east and 4.36 degrees east, respectively. Halley B’s diameter of 5.45 kilometers qualifies it as the largest of the Halley Crater system’s four satellites.

Halley K snuggles against its parent’s southern rim. Satellite K is centered at minus 8.57 degrees south latitude, 5.82 degrees east longitude. It trims into northernmost and southernmost latitudes to minus 8.49 degrees south and minus 8.64 degrees south, respectively. It narrows its easternmost and westernmost longitudes to 5.89 degrees east and 5.79 degrees east, respectively. Halley K has a diameter of 4.45 kilometers.

Halley G lies to the southwest of its parent. Satellite G is positioned on the western side of the valleyed scar that cuts through Halley Crater’s western rim and slashes the terrain to the southeast.

Halley G is centered at minus 8.57 degrees south latitude, 5.82 degrees east longitude. The satellite’s northernmost and southernmost latitudes are limited to minus 8.49 degrees south and minus 8.64 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes occur at 5.89 degrees east and 5.74 degrees east, respectively. Halley G has a diameter of 4.45 kilometers.

Halley G’s diameter is identical to Halley K’s diameter. Halley G and Halley K tie for the rank of smallest satellite in the Halley Crater system.

Halley C resides to the southeast of its parent and of Halley G. Halley C is located on the eastern side of the valley that scars the Halley Crater system’s southeastern terrain. Halley C’s placement qualifies it as the most easterly and the most southerly of the Halley Crater system’s four satellites. Halley C lies the most distantly of the Halley Crater system’s satellites from its parent.

Halley C is centered at minus 9.88 degrees south latitude, 6.63 degrees east longitude. The satellite reduces its northernmost and southernmost latitudes to minus 9.81 degrees south and minus 9.96 degrees south, respectively. It confines its easternmost and westernmost longitudes to 6.7 degrees east and 6.55 degrees east, respectively. Halley C’s diameter measures 4.7 kilometers.

The Halley Crater system occupies the central equatorial region of the near side’s portion of the moon’s southern hemisphere. The primary and four satellite craters lie to the southeast of Sinus Medii (Bay of the Center).

Sinus Medii’s name reflects its placement at the intersection of the lunar equator and prime meridian. The meeting of zero degrees latitude and zero degrees longitude occurs in the central area of the lunar near side. Sinus Medii’s placement qualifies the small lunar mare for occupancy in all four lunar hemispheres: eastern and western hemispheres, northern and southern hemispheres.

Sinus Medii is centered at 1.63 degrees north latitude, 1.03 degrees east longitude. The equatorial lunar mare’s northernmost and southernmost latitudes extend to 4.64 degrees north and minus 2.05 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 5.55 degrees east and minus 3.37 degrees west. Sinus Medii’s diameter spans 286.67 kilometers.

The takeaways for Halley Crater’s parentage of four satellites southeast of Sinus Medii (Bay of the Center) are that the quartet of satellites associates with their parent’s southern half; that Halley B, the Halley Crater system’s most westerly satellite, qualifies as the system’s largest satellite; that Halley G and Halley K tie as the Halley Crater system’s smallest satellites; and that the most distant satellite, Halley C, qualifies as the most easterly and most southerly of the Halley Crater system’s four satellites.

View obtained November 1969 with Hasselblad camera during Apollo 12 mission shows Halley Crater system (labels added); film magazine 50/Q; NASA ID AS12-50-7430: 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:

View obtained November 1969 with Hasselblad camera during Apollo 12 mission shows Halley Crater system (labels added); film magazine 50/Q; NASA ID AS12-50-7430: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AS12-50-7430_(21676574416).jpg;
Project Apollo Archive (Apollo Image Gallery), Public Domain, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/projectapolloarchive/21676574416/

For further information:

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

Grego, Peter. The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers’ Observing Guides. London UK: Springer-Verlag, 2005.

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Halley.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/2330

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Halley B.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/9692

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Halley C.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/9693

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Halley G.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/9694

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Halley K.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/9695

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Sinus Medii.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/ 5567

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.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/MOON/target

Levy, David H. Skywatching. Revised and updated. San Francisco CA: Fog City Press, 1994.

Marriner, Derdriu. “Halley Crater Honors British Astronomer Edmond Halley.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/01/halley-crater-honors-british-astronomer.html

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

The Moon Wiki. “IAU Directions.” The Moon.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/IAU_directions

The Moon Wiki. “Sinus Medii.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > M Nomenclature.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Sinus_Medii

Moore, Patrick, Sir. Philip’s Atlas of the Universe. Revised edition. London UK: Philip’s, 2005.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Bruce Crater Honors American Astronomy Patron Catherine Wolfe Bruce

Summary: Bruce Crater honors American astronomy patron Catherine Wolfe Bruce, who established the Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s Bruce Medal in 1897.

Oblique view of Sinus Medii, obtained in 1972 by Apollo 16, shows Bruce Crater (upper center), with (to its right) nearest named neighbor Blagg Crater; NASA ID AS16-M-0842: James Stuby (Jstuby), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The lunar near side’s Bruce Crater honors American astronomy patron Catherine Wolfe Bruce, whose benefactions to astronomy included establishing, in 1897, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s (ASP) Bruce Medal for recognition of outstanding lifetime contributions.

Bruce Crater is a small lunar impact crater in the lunar near side’s northeastern quadrant. The circular feature is cup-shaped.

Bruce is centered at 1.16 degrees north latitude, 0.37 degrees east longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The northern hemisphere crater’s northernmost and southernmost latitudes occur at 1.27 degrees north and 1.06 degrees north, respectively. It obtains easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 0.48 degrees east and 0.27 degrees east, respectively. Bruce Crater has a diameter of 6.14 kilometers.

Bruce Crater is sited toward the center of Sinus Medii (Bay of the Center). Sinus Medii’s name reflects its location at 0 degrees latitude and 0 degrees longitude, the intersection of the lunar equator and the lunar prime meridian.

Sinus Medii is centered at 1.63 degrees north latitude, 1.03 degrees east longitude. The small lunar mare records northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 4.64 degrees north and minus 2.05 degrees south, respectively. It registers easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 5.55 degrees east and minus 3.37 degrees west, respectively. Sinus Medii’s diameter spans 286.67 kilometers.

Blagg Crater occurs as Bruce Crater’s nearest named neighbor in Sinus Medii. Blagg is centered at 1.22 degrees north latitude, 1.46 degrees east longitude. It posts northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 1.3 degrees north and 1.14 degrees north, respectively. It marks easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 1.55 degrees east and 1.46 degrees east, respectively. Blagg Crater has a diameter of 4.97 kilometers.

Bruce Crater honors American astronomy patron Catherine Wolfe Bruce (Jan. 22, 1816-March 13, 1900). The International Astronomical Union (IAU) approved Bruce as the small crater’s official name in 1935, during the organization’s Vth (5th) General Assembly, held in Cambridge, United Kingdom, from Wednesday, July 10, to Wednesday, July 17.

Catherine Wolfe Bruce was the oldest of five children born to wealthy Scottish immigrant George Bruce (July 5, 1781-July 6, 1866) and his wife, Catherine (June 21, 1785-March 18, 1861). Her privileged upbringing allowed her to pursue interests in art, literature and travel.

At the age of 72, Catherine revealed an interest in benefiting astronomy, according to astronomy historian Joseph S. Tenn’s “A Brief History of the Bruce Medal of the A.S.P.,” published in the July-August 1986 issue of Mercury, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s journal. Two contrasting publications fueled Catherine’s new interest. Canadian-American Simon Newcomb (March 12, 1835-July 11, 1909), head of the U.S. Naval Observatory’s Almanac Office from 1877-1897, expressed the expectation of “. . . fast reaching the limits of our knowledge” (pages 69-70) in an article, “The Place of Astronomy Among the Sciences,” published in The Sidereal Messenger’s February 1888 issue. A circular by fourth Harvard College Observatory Director (1877-1919) Edward Charles Pickering (July 19, 1846-Feb. 3, 1919) sought a donation of $50,000 for a specially designed telescope in order to conduct a photographic survey of the entire sky.

Catherine’s astronomy benefactions totaled $174,275, according to the complete list compiled by American astronomer William Wallace Payne’s (March 19, 1837-Jan. 29, 1928) and published in the May 1900 issue of Popular Astronomy (pages 237-238). She committed $25,000 to Harvard College on June 19, 1889, as her first benefaction.

In 1897, Edward Singleton Holden (Nov. 5, 1846-March 16, 1914), founding president of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), sought $2,750 from Catherine for the establishment of a gold medal award under the ASP’s auspices. On Sept. 2, 1897, a donation of $2,750 to F.R. Ziel, as Secretary and Treasurer of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Endowment Bruce Medal, appeared on Catherine’s list of benefactions.

The first Catherine Wolfe Bruce Medal was awarded in 1898. Simon Newcomb, whose 1888 article had distressed Catherine, was the medal’s first recipient. Between 1898 and 2011 there have been 104 Bruce medalists.

The takeaways for Bruce Crater, which honors American astronomy patron Catherine Wolfe Bruce, are that the small crater lies near the center of Sinus Medii (Bay of the Center) in the lunar near side’s northeastern quadrant; that the crater’s namesake donated $174,275 between 1889 and 1899 for the advancement of astronomy; and that the medal that she established as an award for outstanding, lifetime excellence in astronomy and that bears her name has recognized, between 1898 and 2011, 104 individuals.

Detail of Lunar Astronautical Chart (LAC) 59 shows Bruce Crater and nearest named neighbor Blagg Crater in Sinus Medii in the lunar near side’s northeastern quadrant; 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:

Andersson, Leif E.; and Ewen A. Whitaker. NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature. NASA Reference Publication 1097. Washington DC: NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration Scientific and Technical Information Branch, October 1982.
Available via NASA NTRS (NASA Technical Reports Server) @ https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19830003761.pdf

Campbell, W.W. (William Wallace) “Simon Newcomb.” National Academy of Sciences, vol. XVII First Memoir.
Available @ http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/newcomb-simon.pdf

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

Grego, Peter. The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers’ Observing Guides. London UK: Springer-Verlag, 2005.

Hughes, Stefan. “IV.3.5 ‘Bruce’ Double Astrograph.” Catchers of the Light: The Forgotten Lives of the Men and Women Who First Photographed the Heavens. Vol. 1 -- Catching Space: 403-404. Vol. 2 -- Imaging Space. Paphos, Cyprus: ArtDeCiel Publishing, 2012.
Available via Google Books @ https://books.google.com/books?id=iZk5OOf7fVYC&pg=PA403

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Blagg.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/765

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Bruce.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/897

Levy, David H. Skywatching. Revised and updated. San Francisco CA: Fog City Press, 1994.

Lunar and Planetary Institute. “Landing Site Overview.” Lunar and Planetary Institute > Lunar Science and Exploration Portal > Exploration > Lunar Mission Studies > Lunar Exploration Timeline: 1969: Apollo 11.
Available @ https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_11/landing_site/

Marriner, Derdriu. “Near Side Lunar Crater Swift Honors American Astronomer Lewis Swift.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/01/near-side-lunar-crater-swift-honors.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Sheepshanks Crater Honors British Astronomical Benefactor Anne Sheepshanks.” Earth and Space News. Feb. 1, 2012.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/02/sheepshanks-crater-honors-british.html

The Moon Wiki. “IAU Directions.” The Moon.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/IAU_directions

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

Moore, Patrick, Sir. Philip’s Atlas of the Universe. Revised edition. London UK: Philip’s, 2005.

Newcomb, Simon, Professor. “The Place of Astronomy Among the Sciences.” The Sidereal Messenger, vol. 7, no. 2, whole no. 62 (February 1888): 65-73.
Available via Harvard ADSABS @ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1888SidM....7...65N
Available via Harvard ADSABS @ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/pdf/1888SidM....7...65N

Payne, W. W. (William Wallace). “The Late Catherine Wolfe Bruce.” Popular Astronomy, vol. VIII, no. 5, whole no. 75 (May 1900): 235-238. Northfield MN: Goodsell Observatory of Carleton College, 1900.
Available via HathiTrust @ https://hdl.handle.net/2027/chi.60263570?urlappend=%3Bseq=263

Stratton, F.J.M. (Frederick John Marrian), ed. Vth General Assembly Transactions of the IAU Vol. V B Proceedings of the 5th General Assembly Paris France, July 10-17, 1935. Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press, Jan. 1, 1936.
Available @ https://www.iau.org/publications/iau/transactions_b/

Tenn, Joseph S. “A Brief History of the Bruce Medal of the A.S.P.” Mercury: The Journal of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, vol. XV, no. 4 (July-August 1986): 103-111, 125.
Available @ http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/brucemedalists/BruceMedalHistory.pdf