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Atlas_01082014_140422_UT

 

(Freely adapted from Wikipedia)

 

Lacus Temporis (Latin for Lake of Time) is a small lunar mare that is located in the northeastern quadrant of the Moon's near side.

This small mare is composed of two large, roughly circular patches of relatively smooth surface, with a pair of small, cup-shaped craters located prominently at their intersection. Both of these regions of basaltic lava covered surface have some smaller side lobes, which are most likely impact features that have become flooded.

Atlas is a prominent lunar impact crater (dia. 87 dept. Km 2.0 Km) that is located in the northeast part of the Moon, to the southeast of Mare Frigoris. Just to the west is the slightly smaller but still prominent crater Hercules. Northeast of Atlas is the large Endymion.

The inner wall of Atlas is multiply terraced and the edge slumped, forming a sharp-edged lip. This is a floor-fractured crater with a rough and hilly interior that has a lighter albedo than the surroundings. Floor-fractures are usually created as a result of volcanic modifications.

There are two dark patches along the inner edge of the walls; one along the north edge and another besides the southeast edges. A system of slender clefts named the Rimae Atlas crosses the crater floor, and were created by volcanism. Along the north and northeastern inner sides are a handful of dark-halo craters, most likely due to eruptions. Around the midpoint is a cluster of low central hills arranged in a circular formation.

Hercules is a prominent crater (dia. 69 Km dept. 3.2 Km) located in the northeast part of the Moon, to the west of the crater Atlas. It lies along the east edge of a southward extension in the Mare Frigoris. 

The interior walls of Hercules have multiple terraces, and there is a small outer rampart. The crater floor has been flooded by lava in the past, and contains several areas of low albedo. The central peak has been buried, leaving only a low hill near the midpoint. The satellite crater Hercules G is located prominently just to the south of the center. The small crater Hercules E lies along the southern rim of Hercules.

In the past this crater has been reported as the site of some transient lunar phenomenon.

Endymion is a lunar crater (dia. 125 Km dept. 2.6 Km) that lies near the northeast limb of the Moon. It is located to the east of Mare Frigoris, and north of the Lacus Temporis. To the southwest is the somewhat smaller crater Atlas. Because of its location, Endymion has an oval appearance from foreshortening. Beyond the crater along the lunar limb is the Mare Humboldtianum.

The floor of Endymion has been covered in low-albedo lava that gives it a dark appearance and makes it relatively easy to locate. The floor is nearly smooth and featureless, with only a few tiny craterlets located within the rim. A string of three lie near the northwestern inner wall. Faint streaks of ray material from Thales to the north-northwest crosses the dark floor. The outer rampart is low, wide, and worn from impact erosion.

Keldysh is a lunar impact crater (dia. 22 Km dept. Unknown) that is located in the northeastern part of the Moon, at the eastern rim of the Mare Frigoris. It lies due north of the prominent crater Atlas, and to the northeast of the notable Hercules.

The crater rim is generally circular, although it gives the appearance of a slight eastward bulge. The rim edge is sharp and displays little appearance of wear, with only a tiny craterlet along the eastern edge. The inner wall slopes down without terraces to the ejecta along the base. The interior floor is relatively featureless and is free of notable impacts or ridges.

This crater was previously designated Hercules A, a satellite crater of Hercules, before being renamed by the IAU.

 




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