Plinius (crater)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Crater characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 15.4° N, 23.7° E |
| Diameter | 43 km |
| Depth | 4.3 km |
| Colongitude | 336° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Gaius Secundus |
Plinius is a prominent lunar impact crater lies on the border between Mare Serenitatis in the north and Mare Tranquilitatis in the south. South-southeast of Plinius is Ross crater, and to the northeast is Dawes crater. Just to the north is a system of rilles named the Rimae Plinius. At the northwest edge of the rille is the Promontorium Archeruia, a cape off the western rim that encloses the Mare Serenitatis.
The sharp rim of the Plinius crater is slightly oval in form, with a terraced inner wall, and an irregular outer rampart. It lacks a visible ray system. The crater floor is hilly, and in the middle is an irregular central peak that has the appearance of a double crater formation under certain angles of illumination. There is a cleft feature attached to the northern side of the peak. The eastern half of the floor is much more smooth and level than the hummocky west, and this section forms a crescent shape about the central peak.
By convention these features are identified on Lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater mid-point that is closest to Plinius crater.
| Plinius | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 13.0° N | 24.2° E | 4 km |
| B | 14.1° N | 26.2° E | 5 km |
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