Theophilus (crater)

lunar crater data


caption=Location of the lunar crater Theophilus.
latitude=11.4
N_or_S=S
longitude=26.4
E_or_W=E
diameter=100 km
depth=3.2 km
colong=333
eponym=Theophilus of Alexandria

Theophilus is a prominent lunar impact crater that lies between Sinus Asperitatis in the north and Mare Nectaris to the southeast. It partially intrudes into the comparably sized crater Cyrillus to the southwest. To the east is the smaller crater Mädler and further to the south-southeast is Beaumont. [cite web
title=Moon - Theophilus crater region | work=astrosurf.com
url=http://www.astrosurf.com/antilhue/moon-theophilus.htm
accessdate=October 16
accessyear=2007] It was named after the 4th century Greek philosopher Theophilus."Autostar Suite Astronomer Edition". CD-ROM. Meade, April 2006.]

The rim of Theophilus has a wide, d inner surface that shows indications of landslips. It is 14,000 feet deep with massive walls and has broken into a second formation, Cyrillus. [Moore, Patrick (2001). "On the Moon". Sterling Publishing Co.. ISBN 0-304-35469-4. ] It was created during the Eratosthenian period, from 3.2 to 1.1 billion years ago. It has an imposing central mountain, 1,400 meters high, with four summits.

The floor of the crater is relatively flat, and it has a large, triple-peaked central crater that climbs to a height of about 2 kilometers above the floor. The western peak is designated Psi (ψ), the eastern Phi (φ), and the northern peak is Alpha (α) Theophilus. The western slopes of this ridge are wider and more irregular, whereas the peaks descend more sharply to the floor on the northern and western faces. [cite book
first=Antonín | last=Rükl | authorlink=Antonín Rükl
year=1990 | title=Atlas of the Moon
publisher=Kalmbach Books
id=ISBN 0-913135-17-8 ]

The Apollo 16 mission collected several pieces of basalt that are believed to be ejecta from the formation of Theophilus. [cite web
title=Apollo 16 Mission | work=Lunar and Planetary Institute
url=http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_16/samples/
accessdate=October 16
accessyear=2007]

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 Theophilus. [cite book
author=Bussey, B.; Spudis, P.,
year=2004 | title=The Clementine Atlas of the Moon
publisher=Cambridge University Press | location=New York
id=ISBN 0-521-81528-2 ]

References