Fraunhofer (crater)


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Fraunhofer is a lunar impact crater that is located just to the south-southwest of the walled plain Furnerius, in the southeastern part of the Moon. This crater appears foreshortened when viewed from the Earth, and is actually nearly circular.

Fraunhofer
Coordinates39°30′S 59°06′E / 39.5°S 59.1°E
Diameter56 km
Depth1.5 km
Colongitude302° at sunrise
EponymJoseph von Fraunhofer
Oblique Lunar Orbiter 4 image, facing northwest

This crater has undergone some erosion from lesser impacts, particularly along the northern part of the rim. The satellite crater Fraunhofer V lies along the northwestern edge and part of the inner wall. A pair of smaller craters also lie along the northern rim. The remainder of the rim is relatively intact, with small craterlets along parts of the inner wall. The interior floor is nearly level and is marked by several small craterlets. The southern two-thirds of the floor has a slightly lower albedo than the northern part.

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

Fraunhofer Latitude Longitude Diameter
A 39.6° S 61.7° E 29 km
B 41.8° S 67.3° E 36 km
C 42.9° S 64.7° E 38 km
D 43.1° S 69.0° E 17 km
E 43.4° S 61.7° E 42 km
F 41.7° S 59.8° E 16 km
G 38.5° S 58.3° E 11 km
H 40.8° S 61.7° E 43 km
J 42.4° S 63.6° E 63 km
K 42.5° S 69.3° E 16 km
L 42.1° S 68.8° E 8 km
M 40.9° S 65.6° E 21 km
N 40.9° S 64.4° E 12 km
R 43.5° S 68.7° E 11 km
S 43.1° S 69.9° E 13 km
T 37.9° S 55.7° E 8 km
U 40.2° S 65.1° E 24 km
V 39.0° S 58.0° E 24 km
W 39.4° S 62.8° E 18 km
X 39.7° S 60.6° E 6 km
Y 40.2° S 63.0° E 13 km
Z 39.9° S 63.9° E 14 km