Hilbert (crater)

lunar crater data


caption=Hilbert from Apollo 15. "NASA photo."
latitude=17.9
N_or_S=S
longitude=108.2
E_or_W=E
diameter=151 km
depth="Unknown"
colong=254
eponym=David Hilbert

Hilbert is a lunar crater that is located on the far side of the Moon, just past the southeast limb. It lies just beyond the region of the surface that is occasionally brought into view due to libration, and so this feature can not be observed directly from the Earth.

The crater is attached to the southeast rim of the Pasteur walled-plane, a formation nearly half again as large as Hilbert. To the southeast of Hilbert is the smaller Alden crater, while Backlund crater lies to the west-northwest.

Much of the outer rim of Hilbert remains relatively intact, although it is heavily eroded in places particularly in the south. The interior is relatively flat, but has been deeply gouged by several small craters. There is a short range of central ridges offset to the west of the interior mid-point. Just to the west of the ridges is 'Hilbert W', a crater with a smaller crater overlaying the western rim — giving it a pear-like shape. 'Hilbert H' is a circular, bowl-shaped crater in the east part of the floor. Next to the northern rim is 'Hilbert Y'. There are also many lesser craterlets situated about the interior.

atellite 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 Hilbert crater.

References