Lepaute (crater)
Encyclopedia
Lepaute is a small lunar
crater
that is located along the western edge of the Palus Epidemiarum
, a minor lunar mare
in the southwestern part of the Moon
's near side. To the east is the larger crater Ramsden
, within a system of rille
s named the Rimae Ramsden. This is an elongated crater feature that is longer in the north–south direction. The outer rim is only slightly worn, and the inner walls are simple slopes that run down to the level, featureless interior floor.
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...
that is located along the western edge of the Palus Epidemiarum
Palus Epidemiarum
Palus Epidemiarum is a small lunar mare in the southwestern part of the Moon's near side. It lies to the southwest of Mare Nubium, and southeast of Mare Humorum...
, a minor lunar mare
Lunar mare
The lunar maria are large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth's Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They were dubbed maria, Latin for "seas", by early astronomers who mistook them for actual seas. They are less reflective than the "highlands" as a result of their iron-rich compositions, and...
in the southwestern part of the Moon
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...
's near side. To the east is the larger crater Ramsden
Ramsden (crater)
Ramsden is a lunar impact crater located on the western stretch of the Palus Epidemiarum. To the east-southeast is the crater Capuanus, and to the north lies Dunthorne....
, within a system of rille
Rille
Rille is typically used to describe any of the long, narrow depressions in the lunar surface that resemble channels. Typically a rille can be up to several kilometers wide and hundreds of kilometers in length...
s named the Rimae Ramsden. This is an elongated crater feature that is longer in the north–south direction. The outer rim is only slightly worn, and the inner walls are simple slopes that run down to the level, featureless interior floor.
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 Lepaute.| Lepaute | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 34.3° S | 36.2° W | 22 km |
| E | 35.7° S | 35.0° W | 10 km |
| F | 37.2° S | 34.8° W | 7 km |
| K | 34.3° S | 33.9° W | 12 km |
| L | 34.5° S | 35.2° W | 9 km |