Delisle (crater)

(Redirected from Gaston (crater))

Delisle is a small lunar impact crater in the western part of the Mare Imbrium. It was named after French astronomer Joseph-Nicolas Delisle.[1] It lies to the north of the crater Diophantus, and just to the northwest of the ridge designated Mons Delisle. Between Delisle and Diophantus is a sinuous rille named Rima Diophantus, with a diameter of 150 km. To the northeast is another rille designated Rima Delisle, named after this crater.

Delisle
Apollo 15 image
Coordinates29°54′N 34°36′W / 29.9°N 34.6°W / 29.9; -34.6
Diameter25 km
Depth2.6 km
Colongitude35° at sunrise
EponymJoseph-Nicolas Delisle
Delisle's area in selenochromatic format holding some normal (yellow)/pyroclastic(red) selenochromatic landmarks
The lunar craters Delisle (above) and Diophantus (below) from Apollo 15. NASA photo.

The rim of Delisle is somewhat polygonal in form and it has a low central rise on the floor. There is some slight slumping along the inner wall, but overall the rim is still relatively fresh with little appearance of significant wear. The outer rim is surrounded by a small rampart of hummocky terrain.

Delisle is a crater of Eratosthenian age.[2]

This formation has also been designated "De l'Isle" in some sources.

Rima Delisle

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This is a sinuous rille centered on selenographic coordinates 31.0° N, 32.0° W. It occupies a maximum diameter of 60 km. Three tiny craters in the vicinity of this feature have been assigned names by the IAU. These are listed in the table below.

Crater Longitude Latitude Diameter Name source
Boris 30.6° N 33.5° W 4 km Russian masculine name
Gaston 30.9° N 34.0° W 2 km French masculine name
Linda 30.7° N 33.4° W 1 km Spanish feminine name

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 Delisle.

Delisle Latitude Longitude Diameter
K 29.0° N 38.4° W 3 km

References

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  1. ^ "Delisle (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. ^ The geologic history of the Moon. USGS Professional Paper 1348. By Don E. Wilhelms, John F. McCauley, and Newell J. Trask. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington: 1987. Table 12.2.
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