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Bessarion (crater)

Coordinates: 14°54′N 37°18′W / 14.9°N 37.3°W / 14.9; -37.3
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Bessarion
Lunar Orbiter 4 image of Bessarion (center) and Bessarion E (top center)
Coordinates14°54′N 37°18′W / 14.9°N 37.3°W / 14.9; -37.3
Diameter10.2 km
Depth2.0 km
Colongitude37° at sunrise
EponymBessarion
The crater area in a Selenochromatic Image (Si)
Oblique view from Apollo 15

Bessarion is a lunar impact crater located near the southwest edge of Mare Imbrium. It is named after Greek scholar Bessarion.[1] Some distance to the east is the crater T. Mayer. Bessarion is a bowl-shaped crater with a low central rise and a higher albedo than the maria, making it a brighter feature when the sun is overhead.

Just to the north of Bessarion is a smaller crater Bessarion E that also has a relatively high albedo. This crater is sometimes called Virgil, although this name is not officially recognized by the IAU.

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 Bessarion.

Bessarion Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 17.1° N 39.8° W 13 km
B 16.8° N 41.7° W 12 km
C 16.0° N 42.6° W 9 km
D 19.8° N 41.7° W 9 km
E 15.4° N 37.3° W 8 km
G 14.9° N 40.3° W 4 km
H 15.3° N 41.4° W 5 km
V 15.0° N 35.0° W 3 km
W 16.7° N 36.9° W 3 km

References

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