Fizeau (crater)

Coordinates: 58°36′S 133°54′W / 58.6°S 133.9°W / -58.6; -133.9
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Fizeau
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 5 image
Coordinates58°36′S 133°54′W / 58.6°S 133.9°W / -58.6; -133.9
Diameter111 km
DepthUnknown
Colongitude137° at sunrise
EponymHippolyte Fizeau[1]
Another oblique Lunar Orbiter 5 image, facing west

Fizeau is a prominent lunar impact crater that is located on the far side of the Moon, in the southern hemisphere. Nearby craters of note include Minkowski to the west-northwest, and Eijkman to the southwest.

The inner wall of the crater rim is multiply terraced in the northern half, while the southern rim has a shear inner surface leading down to slumped deposits on the crater floor. There is a small but prominent crater lying across the southwest rim, with an inner surface that forms terraced steps covering most of the interior. There are also smaller craterlets on the rim to the northeast and west-southwest.

The interior of Fizeau is relatively flat beyond the terraces, with only a few low rises in the northwest section of the crater and a central peak near the midpoint. Only a few tiny craterlets are located on the floor.

Satellite craters[edit]

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

Fizeau Latitude Longitude Diameter
C 56.1° S 128.5° W 22 km
F 58.2° S 124.5° W 19 km
G 59.2° S 124.5° W 54 km
Q 59.8° S 136.3° W 28 km
S 58.7° S 139.9° W 62 km

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Fizeau on Moon". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 21 September 2018.