Licetus (crater)
Encyclopedia
Licetus is a lunar
impact crater
on the near side of the Moon
, in the rugged southern highland region. It lies to the south of the walled plain Stöfler
, and is attached to the northern rim of the sub-divided crater Heraclitus
. Just to the southeast is Cuvier
. Licetus is 75 kilometers in diameter and 3.8 kilometers deep. It is from the Pre-Nectarian
period, 4.55 to 3.92 billion years ago.
This is a worn crater formation with several craterlets lying across the rim and along the inner wall. The most notable of these is a small crater lying across the inner southeast rim, with another across the northwest rim. The rim is also especially worn along the northern end, with a cluster of tiny craterlets along the rim lip and the inner wall. The interior floor is relatively flat, with some minor ridges and slips in the southern half. There are small craterlets along the west-southwest and eastern edges of the floor.
The crater is named after Fortunio Liceti
, a 17th century Italian
philosopher and physicist.
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...
impact 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...
on the near side 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...
, in the rugged southern highland region. It lies to the south of the walled plain Stöfler
Stöfler (crater)
Stöfler is a large lunar impact crater located in the crater-riddled southern highlands, named for Johannes Stöffler. It sits to the west of the crater Maurolycus. The distorted crater Fernelius is attached to the northern rim, and Miller and Nasireddin lie to the west...
, and is attached to the northern rim of the sub-divided crater Heraclitus
Heraclitus (crater)
Heraclitus is a complex lunar crater that lies in the rugged southern highlands of the Moon. The crater Licetus forms the northern end of the formation. Just to the east is Cuvier, and due south is Lilius...
. Just to the southeast is Cuvier
Cuvier (crater)
Cuvier is a lunar crater on the southern part of the Moon's near side. It is attached to the east-southeast rim of the unusually shaped formation Heraclitus. To the northeast is the crater Clairaut....
. Licetus is 75 kilometers in diameter and 3.8 kilometers deep. It is from the Pre-Nectarian
Nectarian
The Nectarian Period of the lunar geologic timescale runs from 3920 million years ago to 3850 million years ago. It is the period during which the Nectaris Basin and other major basins were formed by large impact events...
period, 4.55 to 3.92 billion years ago.
This is a worn crater formation with several craterlets lying across the rim and along the inner wall. The most notable of these is a small crater lying across the inner southeast rim, with another across the northwest rim. The rim is also especially worn along the northern end, with a cluster of tiny craterlets along the rim lip and the inner wall. The interior floor is relatively flat, with some minor ridges and slips in the southern half. There are small craterlets along the west-southwest and eastern edges of the floor.
The crater is named after Fortunio Liceti
Fortunio Liceti
thumb|Portrait of Fortunio LicetiFortunio Liceti , also known as Fortunius Licetus, was an Italian scientist.He was born in Rapallo, and studied at the University of Bologna, graduating with doctorates in philosophy and medicine. He then took a position of chair at the University of Pisa. He later...
, a 17th century Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
philosopher and physicist.
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 Licetus.| Licetus | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 47.8° S | 3.2° E | 8 km |
| B | 46.5° S | 4.9° E | 13 km |
| C | 47.4° S | 5.6° E | 10 km |
| D | 48.0° S | 4.5° E | 6 km |
| E | 44.7° S | 1.9° E | 19 km |
| F | 46.0° S | 1.0° E | 32 km |
| G | 43.8° S | 1.9° E | 11 km |
| H | 45.9° S | 3.1° E | 10 km |
| J | 44.2° S | 3.2° E | 12 km |
| K | 45.5° S | 0.0° E | 6 km |
| L | 47.2° S | 1.1° E | 5 km |
| M | 46.8° S | 1.9° E | 9 km |
| N | 45.5° S | 2.2° E | 9 km |
| P | 47.6° S | 2.4° E | 21 km |
| Q | 47.2° S | 9.7° E | 8 km |
| R | 45.1° S | 3.9° E | 7 km |
| S | 45.2° S | 8.2° E | 11 km |
| T | 45.8° S | 6.7° E | 7 km |
| U | 46.9° S | 7.4° E | 7 km |
| W | 45.9° S | 8.5° E | 7 km |