Thales (crater)
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| Crater characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 61.8° N, 50.3° E |
| Diameter | 32 km |
| Depth | 1.8 km |
| Colongitude | 314° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Thales |
Thales is a small crater located in the northeast part of the Moon, just to the west of the larger Strabo crater. To the southeast is the De La Rue walled-plain. Thales has a sharp, circular rim that has received little erosion. The lunar surface around Thales has a ray system that extends for over 600 kilometers. An area to the north-northwest of the crater is free of rays, however, indicating that the crater may have been formed by a low-angle impact from that direction. The inner wall has some terraces, particularly along the southern side. The sides have a higher albedo than the typical lunar terrain.
This crater has been noted for transient lunar phenomena. In 1892, E. E. Barnard observed a pale haze fill the crater interior, while the surroundings remained clear and sharply visible.
[edit] 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 Thales crater.
| Thales | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 58.5° N | 40.8° E | 12 km |
| E | 57.2° N | 43.2° E | 29 km |
| F | 59.4° N | 42.1° E | 37 km |
| G | 61.6° N | 45.3° E | 12 km |
| H | 60.3° N | 48.0° E | 10 km |
| W | 58.5° N | 39.8° E | 6 km |
[edit] References
- See the reference table for the general listing of literature and web sites that were used in the compilation of this page.
