Thales (crater)

lunar crater data
latitude=61.8
N_or_S=N
longitude=50.3
E_or_W=E
diameter=32 km
depth=1.8 km
colong=314
eponym=Thales

Thales is a small crater located in the northeast part of the Moon, just to the west of the larger Strabo crater. To the southeast is the De La Rue walled-plain. Thales has a sharp, circular rim that has received little erosion. The lunar surface around Thales has a ray system that extends for over 600 kilometers. An area to the north-northwest of the crater is free of rays, however, indicating that the crater may have been formed by a low-angle impact from that direction. The inner wall has some s, particularly along the southern side. The sides have a higher albedo than the typical lunar terrain.

This crater has been noted for transient lunar phenomena. In 1892, E. E. Barnard observed a pale haze fill the crater interior, while the surroundings remained clear and sharply visible.

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 Thales crater.

References