Moltke (crater)

Moltke
Moltke from Apollo 10
Coordinates0°36′S 24°12′E / 0.6°S 24.2°E / -0.6; 24.2
Diameter6.5 km
Depth1.3 km
Colongitude336° at sunrise
EponymHelmuth Graf von Moltke
The crater(to the right) area in a Selenochromatic format Image (Si)
High-resolution view from Lunar Orbiter 5

Moltke is a lunar impact crater near the southern edge of the Mare Tranquillitatis. It is a small, bowl-shaped crater surrounded by a bright halo of higher-albedo material. Just to the south lies the rille system named Rimae Hypatia. These follow a course running roughly east-southeast to west-northwest, and have a length of approximately 180 kilometers.

About 50 kilometers to the northwest of this crater is Tranquility Base, the 1969 landing site of Apollo 11.

The crater is named after German army general and author Helmuth von Moltke the Elder.[1]

Satellite craters

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By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Moltke.

Moltke Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 1.0° S 23.2° E 4 km
B 1.0° S 25.2° E 5 km

Moltke B was informally called Little Moltke by the Apollo 10 and Apollo 11 crews.

References

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  1. ^ "Moltke (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
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