Earth and Space News

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Qualitative Tree Risk Assessment: Risk Ratings for Targets and Trees

Summary: The qualitative tree risk assessment matrix pegs risk levels to failure and impact likelihood or unlikelihood and to severity of associated consequences.

A blocked road with a tangle of downed utility poles and trees represents a significant consequence in tree risk assessment categorizations of tree failure and impact likelihoods; Flintstone, Walker County, northwestern Georgia; Thursday, April 28, 2011, 13:10:26: Duane Tate, CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Flickr

The article Qualitative Tree Risk Assessment in the February 2012 Arborist News arrives at risk levels by ascertaining event likelihood and consequence ratings and at risk level evaluations by applying qualitative criteria.

The likelihoods of branch or tree failure and of specific target zone impacts become the "combined likelihood of a failure impacting a target" within given timelines. The terms unlikely, somewhat likely, likely, very likely communicate combinations of failure and impact for single and for "multiple targets with different values and occupancy rates." The derivative qualitative risk rating matrix designates the estimated consequences "based on the value of the target and the harm that may be done to it."

Consequences express "factors that may protect the risk target from harm," fall characteristics and distance, monetary and non-monetary target values from client perspectives and part size.

Low-value, personal injury-free, repairable, replaceable damages from small-, medium-, large-sized branches and power disruptions impacting beds, fences, landscape lighting and structures fetch categorizations as negligible consequences. Low to moderate damage from branches impacting decks, roofs or structures, slight disruptions to neighborhood traffic and residential power or very minor injuries garner minor categorizations. Disruption of distribution primary or secondary voltage power lines or secondary-street traffic, moderate- to high-value damage to structures or vehicles and personal injury have significant consequences. Death or hospitalizable injuries, disrupted arterial traffic, high-voltage distribution and transmission power lines or motorways and high-value damage to occupied houses or vehicles invoke severe consequences.

Qualitative tree risk assessment judges whole-tree risk aggregations of failure modes and risk targets as independent events since individual risk ratings cannot be added or multiplied.

Tree risk assessors know overall, whole-tree risk ratings for individual trees with multiple failure modes and risk targets as the "failure mode having the greatest risk." Mitigation of high-risk failure modes leaves overall risk ratings higher, lower or unchanged because of "residual risk associated with that tree, including the remaining risk factors."

The tree risk assessment matrix mentions low risk levels for minor consequences from somewhat likely failure and impact likelihoods and for negligible consequences from unlikely likelihoods. It notes moderate levels for minor consequences from likely or very likely failure and impact likelihoods and for severe or significant consequences from somewhat likely likelihoods.

Qualitative tree risk assessment matrices observe high levels for significant consequences from likely or very likely failures and impacts and for severe consequences from likely likelihoods.

Severe consequences from imminent failure and very likely impact likelihoods prompt categories of extreme risk and recommendations that "mitigation measures be taken as soon as possible."

Subjective perceptions of mitigation aesthetics, costs and inconveniences, risk and safety quell or quicken intolerance or tolerance of high-risk trees and risk tolerance and action thresholds. Because of subjective intolerances and variable tolerances, authorities such as councils, municipalities, property managers and utilities typically reveal acceptable risk thresholds in their risk management plans. Aesthetic, budget, geo-historical and safety-related concerns by tree risk managers and tree-related benefit and loss concerns by tree risk assessors sculpt risk tolerance and mitigation thresholds.

The qualitative tree risk assessment matrix translates target and tree zone vulnerabilities into mitigation thresholds, according to co-authors Sharon Lilly, Nelda Matheny and E. Thomas Smiley.

A large tree in extreme closeness to a picnic area could pose the severe consequences of hospitalizations and/or fatalities according to a qualitative risk assessment of tree failure and impact likelihoods: Joseph OBrien/USDA Forest Service/Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 United States, via Forestry Images

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to:
talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet;
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for superior on-campus and on-line resources.

Image credits:

Gilman, Ed. 2011. An Illustrated Guide to Pruning. Third Edition. Boston MA: Cengage.

Hayes, Ed. 2001. Evaluating Tree Defects. Revised, Special Edition. Rochester MN: Safe Trees.

Marriner, Derdriu. 18 February 2012. “Qualitative Tree Risk Assessment: Falling Trees Impacting Targets.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/02/qualitative-tree-risk-assessment.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 10 December 2011. “Tree Risk Assessment: Tree Failures From Defects and From Wind Loads.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/12/tree-risk-assessment-tree-failures-from.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 October 2011. “Five Tree Felling Plan Steps for Successful Removals and Worker Safety.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/10/five-tree-felling-plan-steps-for.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 August 2011. “Natives and Non-Natives as Successfully Urbanized Plant Species.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/08/natives-and-non-natives-as-successfully.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 June 2011. “Tree Ring Patterns for Ecosystem Ages, Dates, Health and Stress.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/06/tree-ring-patterns-for-ecosystem-ages.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 9 April 2011. “Benignly Ugly Tree Disorders: Oak Galls, Powdery Mildew, Sooty Mold, Tar Spot.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/04/benignly-ugly-tree-disorders-oak-galls.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 February 2011. “Tree Load Can Turn Tree Health Into Tree Failure or Tree Fatigue.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/02/tree-load-can-turn-tree-health-into.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 December 2010. “Tree Electrical Safety Knowledge, Precautions, Risks and Standards.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/12/tree-electrical-safety-knowledge.html

Smiley, E. Thomas; Matheny, Nelda; and Lilly, Sharon. February 2012. "Qualitative Tree Risk Assessment." Arborist News 21(1): 12-18.
Available @ http://html5.epaperflip.com/Viewer.aspx?docid=8b0e5722-c46f-47d0-b61c-a2bc00f5ce1c#page=14

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Qualitative Tree Risk Assessment: Falling Trees Impacting Targets

Summary: The qualitative tree risk assessment matrix examines likelihood or unlikelihood of failed branches or trees impacting specific target zone targets.

A tree risk assessment eventually could determine that a 600-year-old white oak tree (Quercus alba) has sufficient decay and rot to pose tree failure likelihood that would damage Revolutionary War headstones in the surrounding cemetery; Basking Ridge white oak on the grounds of Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards Township, Somerset County, north central New Jersey; Monday, Jan. 1, 2007, 00:02: Jared Kofsky, CC BY SA 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons

Context parameters, as communication flow, evaluation method, legal requirements or policies, limitations and objectives, antecede tree risk assessment, according to the article Qualitative Tree Risk Assessment in Arborist News for February 2012.

Probability and consequence formulas beg comparing other risks and trees in quantitative approaches to tree risk assessment's "systematic process to identify, analyze, and evaluate tree risk." Quantitative approaches calculate estimates from accurate, precise data and methods even though "little systematically collected data on which to base probabilities" compromise quantitative tree risk assessments.

Inherent ambiguity and subjectivity daunt qualitative approaches whose determinations and evaluations of risk levels depend upon clear terminology and defined ratings of likelihood, consequences and risks. Qualitative numerical tree risk assessment systems entertain incorrect mathematics by estimating relative risk ratings from risk factors expressed as categorizations numbered ordinally for addition or multiplication.

Risk assessment method choice fancies data and information availability, level of detail, needs of decision makers, requisite expertise and resource availability and reasonability for potential consequences.

Risk managers and tree owners gather uncertainty sources from limited predictability of decay progression, response-grown wood, traffic and occupancy rates, tree failure consequences and weather events. Their qualitative tree risk assessment report has a comparative matrix of tree risk rating by likelihood and by consequences for clients, controlling authorities or societal standards. Their risk assessor identifies tree risk categorizations by the impact consequences of tree failure likelihood from anticipated loads and tree defects, response growth and structural conditions.

Compounded effects and problem-mitigating growth variably jeopardize stability in qualitative tree risk assessment since "Not all conditions and defects have a significant impact on tree structure."

Risk assessors know of tree failures from critically combined conditions, defects and triggers, such as rain, snow and wind loading events beyond the site's seasonal norms. They list as the timespan for imminent, improbable, possible or probable tree failure likelihood either as a one-year interval or as an inspection interval until re-inspection.

Inspection and time intervals mention improbable failure likelihoods for branches or trees unlikely to fail during normal weather conditions and possibly in many severe weather conditions. They note as possible likelihoods unlikely failures of branches and trees during normal weather conditions and as probable likelihoods woody plant failures under normal weather conditions.

Qualitative tree risk assessment offers branches and trees already or "most likely" failing around the corner, even without increased load or significant winds, as imminent likelihoods.

Target occupancy rates for risk assessors and, with aggravations or mitigations of falling trees for arborists, provide estimated tree failure impact likelihoods for target zone targets.

A remote chance of impacting a specified target in the target zone qualifies the failed branch or tree for categorization as very low likelihood of impact. The failed branch or tree with an unlikely chance of impacting a specified target in the target zone receives the categorization of low likelihood of impact. Almost equal likelihood and unlikelihood and great likelihood of impacting specified target zone targets respectively summon failed branches and trees medium and high likelihoods of impact.

The qualitative tree risk assessment matrix ties target impact and tree failure likelihoods and unlikelihoods, according to co-authors Sharon Lilly, Nelda Matheny and E. Thomas Smiley.

Qualitative tree risk assessment could offer tree failure likelihoods for paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) with multiple defects overlooking playground: Joseph OBrien/USDA Forest Service/Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 United States, via Forestry Images

Acknowledgment

A tree risk assessment eventually could determine that a 600-year-old white oak tree (Quercus alba) has sufficient decay and rot to pose tree failure likelihood that would damage Revolutionary War headstones in the surrounding cemetery; the Basking Ridge white oak is on the grounds of Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards Township, Somerset County, north central New Jersey; Monday, Jan. 1, 2007, 00:02: Jared Kofsky, CC BY SA 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Tree_in_Basking_Ridge.JPG

Gilman, Ed. 2011. An Illustrated Guide to Pruning. Third Edition. Boston MA: Cengage.

Hayes, Ed. 2001. Evaluating Tree Defects. Revised, Special Edition. Rochester MN: Safe Trees.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Szilard Crater Parents Two Satellites on Lunar Far Side

Summary: Szilard Crater parents two satellites on the lunar far side in the crater jumble northeast of the northwestern quadrant’s Mare Marginis.

Szilard Crater parents two satellites on the lunar far side in the crater jumble northeast of Mare Marginis (Sea of the Edge) in the northwestern quadrant.

The Szilard system’s primary crater is centered at 33.71 degrees north latitude, 105.78 degrees east longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The northern hemisphere crater registers northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 35.8 degrees north and 31.61 degrees north, respectively. The impact-eroded crater records easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 108.3 degrees east and 103.26 degrees east, respectively. Szilard Crater’s diameter measures 127.22 kilometers.

Parental Szilard is credited with two satellites. Szilard H makes an inward bulge on its parent’s southeastern rim. Szilard M neighbors near its parent’s south-southeastern rim.

Szilard H is centered at 32.65 degrees north latitude, 108.23 degrees east longitude. H’s northernmost and southernmost latitudes occur at 33.46 degrees north and 31.84 degrees north, respectively. The satellite obtains easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 109.19 degrees east and 107.26 degrees east, respectively. Szilard H’s diameter spans 49.25 kilometers and equates to approximately 40 percent of its parent’s diameter.

Szilard M features a craterlet on its northwestern rim. Szilard M is centered at 31.25 degrees north latitude, 106.71 degrees east longitude. M posts northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 31.64 degrees north and 30.85 degrees north, respectively. The satellite marks easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 107.18 degrees east and 106.25 degrees east, respectively. With a diameter of 24.06 kilometers, Szilard M qualifies as the smaller of the Szilard Crater system’s two satellites.

Mare Marginis (Sea of the Edge) lies to the southwest of the Szilard Crater system. The lunar mare wraps around the lunar near side’s eastern limb in its occupancy of both sides of the moon.

Mare Marginis is centered at 12.7 degrees north latitude, 86.52 degrees east longitude. The northern hemisphere lunar mare’s northernmost and southernmost latitudes stretch from 18.59 degrees north to 9.81 degrees north, respectively. The irregularly shaped, dark basaltic plain’s easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 93.35 degrees east and 81.15 degrees east, respectively. Mare Marginis has a diameter of 357.63 kilometers.

Szilard Crater and its two satellites are named in honor of Leo Szilard (Feb. 11, 1898-May 30, 1964). The 20th-century Hungarian-American physicist numbered among the World War II era’s (Sept. 1, 1939-Sept. 2, 1945) pioneers of nuclear fission and of the nuclear chain reaction.

The Szilard Crater system’s location to the east-northeast of the lunar far side’s Maxwell Crater makes neighbors of Leo Szilard’s namesake crater and the crater named after the hypothesizer of Maxwell’s demon, the subject of Szilard’s doctoral dissertation at Friedrich Wilhelm University (German: Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität) in Mitte, central Berlin, Germany. Nineteenth-century Scottish mathematical physicist James Clerk Maxwell (June 13, 1831-Nov. 5, 1879) had conceived Maxwell’s demon as a thought experiment illustrating a possible contradiction of the second law of thermodynamics’ statement of thermodynamic equilibrium. (Thermodynamics is the branch of physics concerned with relations between heat, energy and matter.)

Szilard’s intellectual fascination with nuclear fission chain reactions and his concern over Germany’s nuclear weapon project motivated the Einstein-Szilard letter. German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879-April 18, 1955) addressed the Aug. 2, 1939, letter to 32nd U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Jan. 30, 1882-April 12, 1945). In actuality, the text of the letter was drafted by Szilard and Hungarian-American theoretical physicists Edward Teller (Jan. 15, 1908-Sept. 9, 2003) and Eugene Paul “E.P.” Wigner (Nov. 17, 1902-Jan. 1, 1995). The letter urged the development of a U.S. nuclear program.

Despite his critical involvement in nuclear development, Szilard was sensitive to nuclear weaponry’s unparalleled, seemingly limitless destructiveness. Thus, on July 17, 1945, Szilard drafted A Petition to the President of the United States, known as the Szilárd petition. The document, addressed to 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884-Dec. 26, 1972), was signed by Szilard and 69 scientists working on the Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago’s Metallurgical Laboratory in Chicago, Illinois. The Szilárd petition, which did not reach its addressee, urged against the use of atomic bombs against Japan.

In 1961, Simon and Schuster published The Voice of the Dolphins, a book of six, Cold War-themed short stories by Szilard. The title story’s international biology research laboratory, set in Central Europe, inspired the establishment of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in 1974. The intergovernment organization comprises six sites: Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany; Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, East England; Grenoble, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, southeastern France; Hamburg, northern Germany; Rome, Lazio region, central Italy; and Barcelona, Catalonia, northeast Spain. The international research laboratory’s Szilárd Library, named in honor of Leo Szilard, is housed in EMBL’s main site in Heidelberg.

The takeaways for Szilard Crater’s parentage of two satellites on the lunar far side are that Szilard H gouges its parent’s southeastern rim; that Szilard M neighbors near its parent’s south-southeastern rim; that a large craterlet on the northwestern rim distinguishes Szilard M; that, with a diameter approximating 40 percent of its parent’s diameter, Szilard M is the larger of the system’s two satellites; and that the Szilard Crater system honors 20th-century Hungarian-American physicist and nuclear pioneer Leo Szilard.

Detail of Shaded Relief and Color-Coded Topography Map shows Szilard Crater system (upper right) and northwestern neighbor Maxwell Crater (upper center) in crater jumble northeast of Mare Marginis (lower left corner) in the lunar far side’s northwestern quadrant: 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:

Details of Lunar Astronautical Charts (LAC) 29 (left), 30 (right) and 46 (below) show the Szilard Crater system of parent Szilard and satellites H and M in the lunar far side’s northwestern 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 @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/Lunar/lac-29_wac.pdf; https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/Lunar/lac-30_wac.pdf; and https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/Lunar/lac-46_wac.pdf

Clemente, Bill. “The Dolphin Still Speaks: Leo Szilard and Science Fiction.” Hungarian Journal of English and American Studies (JHEAS), vol. 14, no. 2 (Fall 2008): 373-387.
Available via JSTOR @ https://www.jstor.org/stable/41274436

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. “Mare Marginis.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3681

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Maxwell.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3765

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Richardson.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5027

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Szilard.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5799

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Szilard H.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13351

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Szilard M.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13352

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. “Szilard Crater Honors Hungarian-American Physicist Leo Szilard.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/02/szilard-crater-honors-hungarian.html

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

The Moon Wiki. “Mare Marginis.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > M Nomenclature.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Mare_Marginis

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

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

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

Szilard, Leo. The Voice of the Dolphins and Other Stories. New York NY: Simon and Schuster Inc., 1961.
Available @ https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20190414

Wigner, Eugene P. “Leo Szilard 1898-1964.” National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir. Washington DC: National Academy of Sciences, 1969.
Available via NAS Online @ http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/szilard-leo.pdf

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Szilard Crater Honors Hungarian-American Physicist Leo Szilard

Summary: Szilard Crater honors Hungarian-American physicist Leo Szilard, a nuclear pioneer whose Einstein-Szilard letter prompted the U.S. nuclear program.

Detail of oblique, northeast-facing view, obtained during Apollo 16 mission, shows Szilard Crater (center) with Giordano Bruno Crater (upper left corner); ray streaking from Giordano Bruno across Szilard's northwestern rim (upper left) to southeastern rim between Szilard H (bottom right) and Szilard M (center right); and Richardson E (lower left) squeezed between Richardson Crater (lower left corner) and Szilard; NASA ID AS16-M-3008: James Stuby (Jstuby), Public Domain (CC0 1.0), via Wikimedia Commons

The lunar far side’s Szilard Crater honors Hungarian-American physicist Leo Szilard, a nuclear pioneer who authored the Einstein-Szilard letter, signed by theoretical physicist Albert Einstein and sent to U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, advocating U.S. nuclear development.

Szilard Crater is a lunar impact crater in the lunar side’s northwestern quadrant. The impact-eroded crater displays a rumpled western interior floor. Small and large craterlets pockmark Szilard’s relatively level eastern interior floor.

Szilard is centered at 33.71 degrees north latitude, 105.78 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 35.8 degrees north and 31.61 degrees north, respectively. The worn crater obtains easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 108.3 degrees east and 103.26 degrees east, respectively. Szilard Crater’s diameter spans 127.22 kilometers.

Radial streaks of fine ejecta from the ray system centered on northwestern neighbor Giordano Bruno Crater extend across Szilard’s rim and interior. Giordano Bruno is centered at 35.97 degrees south latitude, 102.89 degrees east longitude. The bright crater’s northernmost and southernmost latitudes stretch from 36.33 degrees north to 35.6 degrees north, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes are found at 103.34 degrees east and 102.44 degrees east, respectively. Giordano Bruno has a diameter of 35.97 kilometers.

Szilard Crater is classified as a primary crater in the Szilard Crater system. The primary crater parents two proximitous satellites. Szilard H gouges its parent’s southeastern rim. Szilard M perches to the south-southeast of its parent.

Szilard Crater’s west-southwestern named neighbor is Richardson Crater. The large lunar impact crater’s eastern satellite, Richardson E, squeezes between its parent’s eastern rim and Szilard’s southwestern rim.

Richardson Crater participates in a distinctive formation with craters Maxwell and Lomonosov. Maxwell Crater infringes upon southwestern Richardson. Lomonosov overlies southern Maxwell.

The Szilard Crater systems honors 20th-century Hungarian-American physicist Leo Szilard (Leó Szilárd). The International Astronomical Union approved the primary crater’s official name in 1970 during the organization’s XIVth (14th) General Assembly, which was held in the seaside resort of Brighton in South East England from Tuesday, Aug. 18, to Thursday, Aug. 27. Prior to its formal naming, Szilard Crater was designated as Crater 116. Approval of the letter designations for Szilard’s two satellites was given in 2006.

Leo Szilard (Feb. 11, 1898-May 30, 1964) is credited with the joint discovery of a technique for separation of isotopes (chemical element variants differing in numbers of neutrons in each atom) for medical purposes in 1934. Szilard and English physicist Thomas A. Chalmers made their discovery at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, United Kingdom. The method is known as the Szilard-Chalmers effect or process.

Szilard’s interest in nuclear fission chain reactions and his concern over Germany’s nuclear weapon project prompted the Einstein-Szilard letter of Aug. 2, 1939. Szilard collaborated with Hungarian-American theoretical physicists Edward Teller (Jan. 15, 1908-Sept. 9, 2003) and Eugene Paul “E.P.” Wigner (Nov. 17, 1902-Jan. 1, 1995) in writing the letter warning of the development of uranium as a “new and important source of energy” via nuclear chain reactions. “This new phenomenon would also lead to the construction of bombs, and it is conceivable -- though much less certain -- that extremely powerful bombs of a new type may thus be constructed,” the letter warned. The letter was addressed to 32nd U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Jan. 30, 1882-April 12, 1945) and was sent with German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879-April 18, 1955) as the sole signatory.

The takeaways for the lunar far side’s Szilard Crater, which honors 20th-century Hungarian-American physicist Leo Szilard, are that the primary lunar impact crater is located the far side’s northwestern quadrant; that Szilard Crater parents two proximitous satellites, Szilard H and Szilard M; and that the crater’s namesake physicist is credited with the Szilard-Chalmers effect for using isotopes for medical purposes, with pioneering involvement in nuclear chain reactions and with co-authoring on Aug. 2, 1939, the Einstein-Szilard letter urging development of the U.S. nuclear program.

Detail of Shaded Relief and Color-Coded Topography Map shows lunar far side’s Szilard Crater (upper right) and satellites Szilard H (unmarked; side parent, map right) and Szilard M (unmarked; belw parent, map right), with craterlet on M's northwestern rim, in the northwestern quadrant: 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

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

de Jager, C. (Cornelis); 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/

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. “Giordano Bruno.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/2172

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

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

Martel, Linda M.V. “How Young Is the Lunar Crater Giordano Bruno?” PSRD Planetary Science Research Discoveries. Feb. 17, 2010.
Available @ http://www.psrd.hawaii.edu/Feb10/GiordanoBrunoCrater.html

Menzel, D.H. (Donald Howard); M. (Marcel) Minnaert; B. (Borris) Levin; A. (Audouin) Dollfus; and B. (Barbara) Bell. “Report on Lunar Nomenclature by the Working Group of Commission 17 of The IAU.” Space Science Reviews, vol. 12, issue 2 (June 1971): 136-186.
Available via Springer Link @ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00171763

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

The Moon Wiki. “Giordano Bruno.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > G Nomenclature.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Giordano_Bruno

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

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

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and Department of Defense Aeronautical Chart and Information Center. Lunar Farside Chart LFC-1. Second edition. October 1967.
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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Sheepshanks Crater Honors British Astronomical Benefactor Anne Sheepshanks

Summary: The lunar near side’s Sheepshanks Crater honors British astronomical benefactor Anne Sheepshanks, whose gifts included books, equipment and funding

Detail of Lunar Astronautical Charts (LAC) 13 shows the Sheepshanks Crater system, occupants of northern Mare Frigoris 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

The lunar near side’s Sheepshanks Crater honors British astronomical benefactor Anne Sheepshanks, whose beneficence included books, equipment and a university scholarship.

Sheepshanks Crater occurs as a middle-latitude impact crater in the lunar near side’s northeastern quadrant. Sheepshanks is centered at 59.24 degrees north latitude, 17.04 degrees east longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The northern hemisphere crater records northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 59.64 degrees north and 58.85 degrees north, respectively. It registers easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 17.8 degrees east and 16.28 degrees east, respectively. Sheepshanks Crater’s diameter measures 23.67 kilometers.

Sheepshanks Crater lies in the foothills on the northern edge of Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold). The middle-latitude dark basaltic plain is centered at 57.59 degrees north latitude, minus 0.01 degrees west longitude. The lunar mare’s northernmost latitude of 64.38 degrees north taps the moon’s north polar region. Its southernmost latitude touches 49.08 degrees north. The eastern and western hemisphere straddler obtains easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 38.03 degrees east and minus 43.14 degrees west, respectively. Mare Frigoris has a diameter of 1,446.41 kilometers.

As the primary crater in the Sheepshanks Crater system, Sheepshanks parents three satellites. Two satellites, A and B, hover to the northeast of their parent. Sheepshanks C’s south-southeasterly location on Mare Frigoris qualifies it as the most distant of the Sheepshanks Crater system’s three satellites.

Sheepshanks A claims the closest position to its parent, with its site between its parent and satellite B. Sheepshanks A is centered at 60 degrees north latitude, 18.96 degrees east longitude. It posts northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 60.11 degrees north and 59.89 degrees north, respectively. It marks easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 19.17 degrees east and 18.74 degrees east. Sheepshanks A has a diameter of 6.65 kilometers.

Sheepshanks B’s northeasterly location qualifies it as the most northerly and the most easterly of the Sheepshanks Crater system’s three craters. Satellite B is centered at 60.32 degrees north latitude, 21.09 degrees east longitude. It obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 60.4 degrees north and 60.25 degrees north, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes occur at 21.25 degrees east and 20.93 degrees east, respectively. Sheepshanks B’s diameter of 4.77 kilometers qualifies it as the smallest of the Sheepshanks Crater system’s three satellites.

Sheepshanks C’s placement on northern Mare Frigoris qualifies it as the most southerly of the Sheepshanks Crater system’s three satellites. Satellite C is centered at 57.03 degrees north latitude, 18.09 degrees east longitude. Sheepshanks C records northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 57.2 degrees north and 56.86 degrees north, respectively. It registers easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 18.4 degrees east and 17.77 degrees east, respectively. Sheepshanks C’s diameter of 10.39 kilometers qualifies it as the largest of the Sheepshanks Crater system’s three satellites.

Sheepshanks Crater honors British astronomical benefactor Anne Sheepshanks (1789-Feb. 8, 1855). The International Astronomical Union (IAU) approved Sheepshanks as the crater’s official name in 1935, during the organization’s Vth (5th) General Assembly, held in Paris, France, from Wednesday, July 10, to Wednesday, July 17. Approval of the letter designations for the Sheepshanks Crater system’s three satellites was given in 2006.

Anne Sheepshanks was born in the Industrial Revolution’s major mill town of Leeds in Northern England’s county of West Yorkshire. She was the middle child and only daughter of Joseph Sheepshanks, a successful textile manufacturer. Her older brother, John (1787-1863), partnered in the family business and bequeathed his art collection to the London’s Victoria & Albert Museum.

The family’s wealth allowed Anne’s younger brother, Richard (July 30, 1794-Aug. 4, 1855), to pursue his interests in astronomy. He served as secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and edited the society’s journal, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS), from 1829 until his death.

In 1862, Anne Sheepshanks became the third woman to be named an Honorary Member of the Royal Astronomical Society. Uranus discover William Herschel’s sister Caroline Lucretia Herschel (March 16, 1750-Jan. 9, 1848) and Scottish astronomer Mary Fairfax Greig Somerville (Dec. 26, 1780-Nov. 29, 1872) had become the society’s first and second female Honorary Members in 1835.

As her brother Richard’s heir, Anne gifted the Royal Astronomical Society with telescopes and other astronomical instruments from Richard’s extensive collection. The Society made the bequests available for loan to active astronomers. Anne also donated 192 volumes from her brother’s library to the Society.

Anne’s benefactions to her younger brother’s alma mater, the University of Cambridge, included establishing the Sheepshanks Exhibition as a three-year scholarship for undergraduates. Her financial support of the Cambridge Observatory allowed for research stipend payments and instrument purchases.

The takeaways for Sheepshanks Crater, which honors British astronomical benefactor Anne Sheepshanks, are that the near side lunar impact crater parents three satellites along northern Mare Frigoris in the northeastern quadrant; that the Sheepshanks Crater system’s namesake numbered as the Royal Astronomical Society’s third female Honorary Member; and that the Royal Astronomical Society, the University of Cambridge and the Cambridge Observatory were the immediate recipients of Anne Sheepshanks’ benefactions.

Detail of Lunar Orbiter 4 photo shows sheepshanks crater system of primary Sheepshanks Crater; (above right of parent) satellite A (D4) and satellite B (CB 7.5); and (below right of parent) satellite C (D 7.5); D.E. Bowker and J.K. Hughes, Lunar Orbiter Photographic Atlas of the Moon (1971), plate 32, Photo No. IV-104-H1: Public Domain, via NASA NTRS (NASA Technical Reports Server)

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

Detail of Lunar Orbiter 4 photo shows Sheepshanks Crater system of primary Sheepshanks Crater (E5); (above right of parent) satellite A (D4) and satellite B (CB 7.5); and (below right of parent) satellite C (D 7.5); D.E. Bowker and J.K. Hughes, Lunar Orbiter Photographic Atlas of the Moon (1971), plate 32, Photo No. IV-104-H1: Public Domain, via NASA NTRS (NASA Technical Reports Server) @ https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19730005152.pdf; via USRA (Universities Space Research Association) LPI (Lunar and Planetary Institute) @ https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/lunar_orbiter/bin/info.shtml?272

For further information:

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Available via NASA NTRS (NASA Technical Reports Server) @ http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19730005152
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Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13073

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Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/13074

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Sheepshanks C.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
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