Thomson (crater)

lunar crater data


caption=Mare Ingenii, dominated by Thomson crater
latitude=32.7
N_or_S=S
longitude=166.2
E_or_W=E
diameter=117 km
depth="Unknown"
colong=195
eponym=J. J. Thomson

Thomson is a lunar crater that is located within the Mare Ingenii on the far side of the Moon. Just to the northeast is the unusual merged crater formation of Van de Graaff. On the northwest rim of the mare is O'Day crater, and to the south-southwest is Obruchev crater on the southern shore of Mare Ingenii.

In the past the crater was flooded by lava, leaving only the outer rim intact. There are gaps in the eastern and western rims, leaving two "half-moon" mountainous formations facing each other across the relatively flat floor. There is a similar lava-flooded crater remnant attached to the southern rim of Thomson. The floor of Thomson has a number of secondary impacts that form short, linear streaks across the surface.

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 Thomson crater.

References