Coulomb (crater)

Coulomb (crater)

Coordinates	54°42′N 114°36′W / 54.7°N 114.6°W / 54.7; -114.6Coordinates: 54°42′N 114°36′W / 54.7°N 114.6°W / 54.7; -114.6
Diameter	89 km
Depth	Unknown
Colongitude	116° at sunrise
Eponym	Charles A. Coulomb

Coulomb is a lunar impact crater that lies behind the northwestern limb, on the far side of the Moon. It is located to the west-southwest of the large crater Poczobutt, and northeast of Sarton.

The rim of this crater is mildly eroded, but still retains a well-defined edge and displays some old terracing on the wide inner walls. The exterior of the crater also retains something of an outer rampart, extending for about a third of crater diameter. The satellite crater Coulomb V lies just beyond the west-northwest limb, while on the opposite side Coulomb J lies a short distance from the outer rim, forming a nearly symmetric pattern. The inner walls of the crater have only a few small impacts along the sides, with one near each of the aforementioned satellite craters.

Within the sloping inner walls, the crater floor is remarkably level and nearly featureless, at least in comparison to the more rugged terrain that surrounds the crater. Only a few tiny craterlets mark this interior plain, and a small crater near the south-southeast inner wall.

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 Coulomb.

Coulomb	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
C	57.4° N	110.8° W	34 km
J	53.1° N	111.6° W	35 km
N	50.6° N	115.8° W	32 km
P	50.5° N	117.4° W	38 km
V	55.6° N	118.1° W	36 km
W	56.5° N	120.4° W	34 km

References

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• Blue, Jennifer (July 25, 2007). "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature". USGS. http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/. Retrieved 2007-08-05. 
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• 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.