Aliacensis (crater)

Aliacensis is a lunar impact crater that is located in the rugged southern highlands of the Moon. The crater Werner is located just to its north-northwest, and a narrow, rugged valley lies between the two comparably sized formations. To the southwest is Walther, and Apianus is to the northeast. Aliacensis is named after the 14th century French geographer and theologian Pierre d'Ailly.[1][2] It is from the Nectarian period, which lasted from 3.92 to 3.85 billion years ago.[2]

Aliacensis
Coordinates30.6°S 5.2°E / -30.6; 5.2
Diameter79 km
Depth3.7 km
Colongitude356° at sunrise
EponymPierre d'Ailly

The rim of Aliacensis is generally circular, with an outward bulge on the eastern wall. The inner wall has some slight terracing particularly in the northeast. There is a small crater located across the southern rim. The interior floor is generally flat, with a low central peak slightly offset to the northwest of the midpoint. South of it lie two somewhat broken rings, Kaiser and Nonius. It is 52 kilometers in diameter and there is a 3.7 kilometer difference in height between its deepest part and its rim.[2][3]

Satellite craters
Aliacensis with satellite craters labeled

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Aliacensis.[4]

Aliacensis Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 29.7° S 7.4° E 14 km
B 31.3° S 3.2° E 16 km
C 32.6° S 5.4° E 8 km
D 33.1° S 6.9° E 10 km
E 30.4° S 2.3° E 9 km
F 32.7° S 3.9° E 5 km
G 33.3° S 4.7° E 8 km
H 31.8° S 6.1° E 6 km
K 31.4° S 6.2° E 7 km
W 31.9° S 5.3° E 11 km
X 29.6° S 6.9° E 4 km
Y 30.1° S 7.4° E 5 km
Z 30.0° S 4.6° E 4 km

References
  1. "Aliacensis (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. Autostar Suite Astronomer Edition. CD-ROM. Meade, April 2006.
  3. Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co.. ISBN 0-304-35469-4.
  4. Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-81528-2.
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