Dyson (crater)

lunar crater data
latitude=61.3
N_or_S=N
longitude=121.2
E_or_W=W
diameter=63 km
depth="Unknown"
colong=187
eponym=Frank W. Dyson

Dyson is a lunar impact crater that lies on the far side of the Moon, past the northwest limb. It is located in the northern part of the surface, to the northwest of the Coulomb crater, and east of Van't Hoff crater.

The most unusual aspect of this crater is the asymmetry of the inner wall. To the northeast the rim is low and the inner wall is quite narrow, almost non-existent. This portion of the rim overlays the interior of an unnamed depression in the surface; most likely a damaged crater. In the remaining arc between the eastern rim clockwise to the north, the inner wall is much wider. As a result the level inner floor is offset toward the northeast. The interior has a central peak located near the mid-point of the crater, then forming a linear ridge that continues until it reaches the western inner wall. The floor is otherwise nearly featureless, except for a few tiny craterlets.

The rim and inner wall have been somewhat worn by impact erosion, but are not overlaid by any impacts of significance. The small crater 'Dyson X' is attached to the exterior of the rim along the north-northwest side. A smaller crater is nearly attached to the southwest rim, and this also lies along the northeast rim of the large satellite crater 'Dyson Q', a heavily eroded formation. A cluster of tiny craters is attached to the southeast rim of Dyson.

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 Dyson crater.

References