Fra Mauro (crater)

lunar crater data
latitude=6.0
N_or_S=S
longitude=17.0
E_or_W=W
diameter=95 km
depth="None"
colong=17
eponym=Fra Mauro

Fra Mauro is the worn remnant of a walled lunar plain. It is part of the surrounding Fra Mauro formation, being located to the northeast of Mare Cognitum and southeast of Mare Insularum. Attached to the southern rim are the co-joined craters Bonpland and Parry, which intrude into the formation forming inward-bulging walls.

The surviving rim of Fra Mauro is heavily worn, with incisions from past impacts and openings in the north and east walls. The rim is the most prominent in the southeast, where it shares a wall with Parry. The remainder consists of little more than low, irregular ridges. The maximum elevation of the outer rim is 0.7 km.

The floor of this formation has been covered by basaltic lava. This surface is almost divided by clefts running from the north and south rims. There is no central peak, although the tiny crater Fra Mauro E lies at almost the mid-point of the formation.

Just to the north of the walled plain is the landing site of the Apollo 14 mission. The crew sampled breccia that had been deposited here by the Imbrium basin-forming impact, and which partly covers Fra Mauro. This rough debris blanket of "ejecta" is referred to as the "Fra Mauro Formation".

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 Fra Mauro.

References