Arago (crater)

Arago (crater) is a prominent lunar impact crater located in the western part of the Mare Tranquillitatis. It is named for the French physicist, astronomer, and statesman Dominique François Jean Arago. The crater is notable for its well-defined rim, central peak, and its location amidst the vast, dark plains of the lunar mare, making it a significant feature for both telescopic observation and geologic study.

Description

Arago is a relatively young, bowl-shaped crater with a sharp, circular rim that has not undergone significant degradation from subsequent impacts. The inner walls display visible terracing, and the floor is relatively flat, featuring a distinct central peak complex typical of complex craters. To the north of Arago lie the smaller crater Manners and the prominent Ritter, while to the southwest is the larger, flooded crater Lamont. The surrounding terrain of the Mare Tranquillitatis is characterized by basaltic lava flows, and several low wrinkle ridges, such as the Dorsum Bucher and Dorsum Nicol, extend across the region, some passing near the crater's outer ramparts. A notable rille system, Rima Ariadaeus, is located to the west, though it is not directly associated with Arago.

Observation and exploration

Arago is readily visible from Earth through moderate-sized amateur telescopes, appearing as a bright spot within the darker mare, especially under high solar illumination. It was photographed in detail by several Lunar Orbiter missions in the 1960s, which provided high-resolution imagery of its structure. The crater was also imaged by the crew of Apollo 10 and Apollo 11 during their historic orbits, as the Tranquility Base landing site for Apollo 11 lies approximately 300 kilometers to the southwest. While no robotic or crewed missions have landed at Arago, its morphology and context have been studied extensively using data from missions like Clementine and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which have mapped its mineralogy and topography.

Satellite craters

By convention, these features are identified on lunar maps by placing a letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Arago. The following satellite craters are associated with Arago. {| class="wikitable" |- ! width="25%" | Arago ! width="25%" | Latitude ! width="25%" | Longitude ! width="25%" | Diameter |- | align="center" | B | align="center" | 7.1° N | align="center" | 22.2° E | align="center" | 8 km |- | align="center" | D | align="center" | 4.7° N | align="center" | 21.7° E | align="center" | 5 km |- | align="center" | E | align="center" | 5.8° N | align="center" | 23.0° E | align="center" | 21 km |- | align="center" | F | align="center" | 5.5° N | align="center" | 23.0° E | align="center" | 6 km |- | align="center" | G | align="center" | 4.8° N | align="center" | 20.8° E | align="center" | 4 km |} Arago E is the most significant of these, being a sizeable crater in its own right, while the others are smaller, simpler impacts.

See also

* List of craters on the Moon * Mare Tranquillitatis * Geology of the Moon * Impact crater

Category:Impact craters on the Moon