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Saussure (crater)

Coordinates: 43°18′S 3°48′W / 43.3°S 3.8°W / -43.3; -3.8
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Saussure
Coordinates43°18′S 3°48′W / 43.3°S 3.8°W / -43.3; -3.8
Diameter54 km
Depth1.8 km
Colongitude187° at sunrise
EponymH-B de Saussure

Saussure is a lunar impact crater. It is located in the crater-riddled terrain in the southern hemisphere of the Moon's near side. Just to the north and nearly attached to the rim is the larger crater Orontius. About a half crater diameter due west is the slightly larger crater Pictet. Just to the east is a curving ridge in the surface, possibly the remains of a crater that has been almost completely overlaid by Saussure.

The outer rim of Saussure is worn but relatively intact, with only the southern edge being somewhat disrupted. A small impact lies across the northeastern rim and a pair of craterlets along the western edge. The inner walls are relatively featureless, and slope down to the generally level interior floor. This bottom surface is marked only by a few tiny craters.

It was named after 18th century Genevan geologist Horace-Bénédict de Saussure.[1] He was the professor, and later colleague and friend of Marc-Auguste Pictet (eponym of nearby Pictet crater).[citation needed]

Satellite craters

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By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Saussure.

Saussure Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 43.8° S 0.5° W 19 km
B 42.2° S 3.9° W 5 km
C 44.8° S 0.6° W 16 km
Ca 45.2° S 0.5° W 16 km
D 46.9° S 0.2° E 20 km
E 44.7° S 2.1° W 12 km
F 44.3° S 4.6° W 4 km

References

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  1. ^ "Saussure (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.