Nansen (lunar crater)

Nansen (lunar crater)

Coordinates	80°54′N 95°18′E / 80.9°N 95.3°E / 80.9; 95.3Coordinates: 80°54′N 95°18′E / 80.9°N 95.3°E / 80.9; 95.3
Diameter	104 km
Depth	Unknown
Colongitude	275° at sunrise
Eponym	Fridtjof Nansen

Nansen is an old lunar crater along the northern limb of the Moon, on the eastern side of the north pole. This feature is viewed from the edge from the Earth, and it must be observed from orbit to see much detail. When brought into view during a favorable libration, this formation can be located by finding the crater Baillaud, then following the surface up towards the limb.

This formation has been heavily worn and eroded by minor impacts, leaving an irregular outer wall that is marked by multiple small craters and indentations. A small crater lies across the northern rim of Nansen, and a similar formation is located along the inner southern wall. A merged chain of tiny craters lies across the eastern rim.

The interior floor of Nansen is more hummocky and irregular in the northern half, while the southern part of the floor is relatively level. There is a small, bowl-shaped crater in the southeastern part of the floor, and many tiny craterlets lie across the interior and along the inner walls.

Satellite 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 Nansen.

Nansen	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	82.8° N	63.0° E	46 km
C	83.2° N	55.5° E	34 km
D	83.8° N	64.0° E	21 km
E	83.3° N	71.0° E	15 km
F	84.7° N	60.0° E	62 km
U	81.6° N	81.4° E	16 km

References

• Andersson, L. E.; Whitaker, E. A., (1982). NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature. NASA RP-1097. 
• Blue, Jennifer (July 25, 2007). "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature". USGS. http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/. Retrieved 2007-08-05. 
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• McDowell, Jonathan (July 15, 2007). "Lunar Nomenclature". Jonathan's Space Report. http://host.planet4589.org/astro/lunar/. Retrieved 2007-10-24. 
• Menzel, D. H.; Minnaert, M.; Levin, B.; Dollfus, A.; Bell, B. (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by the Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews 12 (2): 136–186. Bibcode 1971SSRv...12..136M. doi:10.1007/BF00171763.  edit
• Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. ISBN 0-304-35469-4. 
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• Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 1-85233-193-3.