Hortensius (crater)

lunar crater data
latitude=6.5
N_or_S=N
longitude=28.0
E_or_W=W
diameter=15 km (9 mi)
depth=2.9 km (1.8 mi)
colong=28
eponym=Martin van den Hove

Hortensius is a small, bowl-shaped lunar impact crater that is located in the northern part of the Mare Insularum. It lies some distance to the west-southwest of the prominent Copernicus crater. The crater is circular and cup-shaped, with a small floor at the mid-point of the sloping interior walls. The interior has a higher albedo than the surrounding lunar mare, despite traces of ray material from Copernicus.

To the north of this feature is a collection of six lunar domes, many having a tiny craterlet at the summit. These are shield volcanoes that were formed by a highly-viscous type of lava. The domes are generally circular in form, with a diameter of 6-8 kilometers (4-5 mi), and rising as high as 400 meters (1300 ft). They are formed of the same material as the surrounding mare, although from a different process.

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 Hortensius crater.

References