Rayleigh (lunar crater)

lunar crater data


caption=Rayleigh and surroundings. "NASA photo."
latitude=29.0
N_or_S=N
longitude=189.2
E_or_W=E
diameter=107 km
depth="Unknown"
colong=273
eponym=Lord Rayleigh

Rayleigh is a lunar crater that lies along the northeast limb of the Moon. This feature is seen from the side by observers on the Earth, making it difficult to see much detail. In addition, libration effects can completely hide this crater from due. This crater lies just to the north of Lyapunov crater, and to the northwest of the large Joliot walled plain. Attached to the southwest rim of Rayleigh is the smaller Urey crater.

This is an eroded formation with a rim that has been worn and reshaped by impacts. This is particularly so in the south where the rim has been modified and supplemented by adjacent crater formations and several small craters that lie along the rim.

The interior floor is relatively level in places, but, partly due to overlapping "ejecta", is somewhat rough and irregular in others, particularly in the southern half. A pair of small but prominent craters lie on the interior surface, with 'Rayleigh D' just to the south of the crater mid-point and the smaller 'Rayleigh B' situated in the western half.

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 Rayleigh crater.

The following craters have been renamed by the IAU.
* Rayleigh A — "See" Urey crater.

References