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Capella (crater)
Encyclopedia
Capella is a lunar
crater
49 km (30.4 mi) in diameter that lies to the north of the Mare Nectaris
, in a rugged region with many small impact craters. It intrudes slightly into the eastern rim of the crater Isidorus
, a feature only slightly smaller in diameter.
The wall of Capella is low but relatively thick and irregular, with a large promontory
intruding on the south-eastern side. The crater is crossed by a deep rift, the Vallis Capella, which passes directly through Capella from the north rim through the southeast side of the wall, and extends out both sides for a combined distance of 110 kilometers. This feature was formed by a chain of craters. In the middle of the crater is a wide, round peak with a craterlet at the top. The western side of the crater is dotted with impact debris, forming clusters of small hills.
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
crater
Impact crater
In the broadest sense, the term impact crater can be applied to any depression, natural or manmade, resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with a larger body...
49 km (30.4 mi) in diameter that lies to the north of the Mare Nectaris
Mare Nectaris
The Sea of Nectar is a small lunar mare or sea located between the Sea of Tranquillity and the Sea of Fecundity . Montes Pyrenaeus borders the mare to the west and the large crater near the south center of the mare is known as Rosse...
, in a rugged region with many small impact craters. It intrudes slightly into the eastern rim of the crater Isidorus
Isidorus (crater)
Isidorus is a lunar crater that is located to the north of the Mare Nectaris, on the eastern half of the Moon's near side. It forms a pair with the slightly larger Capella, which is attached to the east-northeastern rim...
, a feature only slightly smaller in diameter.
The wall of Capella is low but relatively thick and irregular, with a large promontory
Promontory
Promontory may refer to:*Promontory, a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water*Promontory, Utah, the location where the United States first Transcontinental Railroad was completed...
intruding on the south-eastern side. The crater is crossed by a deep rift, the Vallis Capella, which passes directly through Capella from the north rim through the southeast side of the wall, and extends out both sides for a combined distance of 110 kilometers. This feature was formed by a chain of craters. In the middle of the crater is a wide, round peak with a craterlet at the top. The western side of the crater is dotted with impact debris, forming clusters of small hills.
Satellite craters
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 Capella.| Capella | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 7.6° S | 37.2° E | 13 km |
| B | 9.4° S | 36.8° E | 10 km |
| C | 5.7° S | 36.3° E | 11 km |
| D | 6.7° S | 37.6° E | 8 km |
| E | 7.5° S | 37.7° E | 16 km |
| F | 9.2° S | 35.4° E | 14 km |
| G | 6.8° S | 36.9° E | 12 km |
| H | 8.1° S | 37.4° E | 9 km |
| J | 9.4° S | 36.0° E | 9 km |
| M | 4.4° S | 37.0° E | 12 km |
| R | 6.0° S | 35.2° E | 7 km |
| T | 6.9° S | 34.2° E | 6 km |