Lunar Orbiter 4 image
| |
| Coordinates | 14°30′N 9°06′E / 14.5°N 9.1°E / 14.5; 9.1 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 38 km (24 mi) |
| Depth | 3.05 km (10,000 ft) |
| Colongitude | 351° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Marcus Manilius |
Manilius is a lunar impact crater on the northeast edge of Mare Vaporum. Its diameter is 38 km.[1]
Manilius has a well-defined rim with a sloping inner surface that runs directly down to the ring-shaped mound of scree along the base, and a small outer rampart. The small crater interior has a higher albedo than the surroundings, and it appears bright when the sun is overhead. Within the crater is a central peak formation near the midpoint.
The crater also possesses a ray system that extends for a distance of over 300 kilometers. Despite the presence of these rays, which generally indicate the age of the crater as Copernican, the crater is currently mapped as Eratosthenian age.[2][3]
Manilius is named after the Roman astronomer Marcus Manilius.[1] Like many of the craters on the Moon's near side, it was given its name by Giovanni Riccioli, whose 1651 nomenclature system has become standardized.[4] Earlier lunar cartographers had given the feature different names. Michael van Langren's 1645 map calls it "Isabellae Reg. Hisp." (Isabella, Queen of Spain),[5] and Johannes Hevelius called it "Insula Besbicus" after the island in Turkey now known as İmralı.[6]
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Manilius.
| Manilius | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 16.6° N | 7.3° E | 6 km |
| C | 12.1° N | 10.4° E | 7 km |
| D | 13.2° N | 7.0° E | 5 km |
| E | 18.3° N | 6.4° E | 49 km |
| G | 15.5° N | 9.7° E | 5 km |
| H | 17.8° N | 8.6° E | 3 km |
| K | 11.9° N | 11.2° E | 3 km |
| T | 13.4° N | 10.6° E | 4 km |
| U | 13.8° N | 10.8° E | 4 km |
| W | 13.4° N | 12.9° E | 4 km |
| X | 14.4° N | 13.4° E | 3 km |
| Z | 16.4° N | 11.7° E | 3 km |
The following craters have been renamed by the IAU.
