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Macrobius (crater)

Coordinates: 21°18′N 46°00′E / 21.3°N 46.0°E / 21.3; 46.0
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The crater area (extreme top) in selenochromatic format
Macrobius
Apollo 17 mapping camera image
Coordinates21°18′N 46°00′E / 21.3°N 46.0°E / 21.3; 46.0
Diameter63 km
Depth3.9 km
Colongitude314° at sunrise
EponymMacrobius

Macrobius is a prominent lunar impact crater located to the northwest of the Mare Crisium. Its diameter is 63 km. It was named after ancient Roman writer Macrobius.[1] It lies on the southeast edge of the Lacus Bonitatis, a small lunar mare. The somewhat smaller crater Tisserand lies just to the east.

Oblique view from Apollo 17

The outer wall of Macrobius has a multiply terraced inner surface, with some slumping along the top of the rim. The small satellite crater Macrobius C lies across the western rim, but the wall is otherwise relatively free of significant wear. In the center of the floor is a central mountain complex. There is a low ridge in the western interior, but the remainder of the floor is relatively level.

Macrobius is a crater of Lower (Early) Imbrian age.[2]

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 Macrobius.

Macrobius Latitude Longitude Diameter
C 20.8° N 45.0° E 10 km
E 18.7° N 46.8° E 10 km
F 22.5° N 48.5° E 11 km
K 21.5° N 40.2° E 12 km
M 25.0° N 41.0° E 42 km
N 22.8° N 40.8° E 5 km
P 23.0° N 39.5° E 18 km
Q 20.4° N 47.6° E 9 km
S 23.3° N 49.6° E 26 km
T 23.8° N 48.6° E 29 km
U 25.0° N 42.8° E 6 km
V 25.4° N 43.3° E 5 km
W 24.8° N 44.6° E 26 km
X 23.0° N 42.2° E 4 km
Y 23.6° N 42.2° E 5 km
Z 24.3° N 42.6° E 5 km

The following craters have been renamed by the IAU.

References

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Satellite craters of Macrobius
Macrobius at center, near the terminator as viewed from Earth, with Mare Crisium to the right
  1. ^ "Macrobius (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. ^ The geologic history of the Moon. USGS Professional Paper 1348. By Don E. Wilhelms, John F. McCauley, and Newell J. Trask. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington: 1987. Table 10.2.
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