Priestley (lunar crater)

lunar crater data
latitude=57.3
N_or_S=S
longitude=108.4
E_or_W=E
diameter=52 km
depth="Unknown"
colong=253
eponym=Joseph Priestley

Priestley is a lunar crater that is located on the far side of the Moon from the Earth, in the low southern latitudes. It lies to the southeast of the flooded Kugler crater.

This is a worn crater with a rim and inner wall that have been softened and have lost the sharp features of a young crater. The satellite crater 'Priestley X' lies across the northern rim and part of the inner wall. There is a small, relatively fresh crater on the inner wall to the south-southwest. An old crater-like feature is attached to the southwestern outer rim, and shares part of its rim with Priestley. The inner wall is narrower in the southeast than elsewhere. Within the interior is a level, featureless floor.

A depression in the surface to the south of Priestley crater has been flooded with lava, leaving a level plain with a low albedo. This flooded area stretches to the west and then to the northwest, and is about four times as long as Priestley is wide.

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 Priestley crater.

References