IWLOP #106 - Sinus Iridum
Massive, spectacular, flooded crater on the edge of Mare Imbrium. It combines the high mountains of Montes Jura with a missing southeastern rim & two prominent “capes.” Sinus Iridum covers more than 10 degrees of the lunar surface and may require various terminator angles for optimum views of all the features listed.
Location: 45.0 N 25-37 W Origin: Impact and Volcanic Size: 260 km Rukl: 9, 10 Type: Simple Crater (CS)
Objects: Sinus Iridum, Montes Jura, Bianchini, Promontoria Heraclides and LaPlace, Helicon, le Verrier, C. Herschel, Sharp, Marina, Maupertius, Luna 17 landing
Location: Home
Date: 2019-03-18
Time: 9:08 PM ADT
Equipment: 6” Dobsonian, 10 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x120
Seeing: Very Good (4)
Transparency: Very Good (4)
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R1: Montes Jura is a half circle structure on the north shore of Sinus Iridum, light in colour compared to the Mare floor. The crater Bianchini impacted the crest of its northern wall. R2: Both Promontoria LaPlace and Heraclides appear steep sided and rugged, projecting into Mare Imbrium at both the eastern and western tips of Montes Jura respectively. R3: Helicon and le Verrier craters are aligned and point to Promontorium Heraclides. The crater C. herschel is to the SW of this promontorium. |
C1: Sharp and Mairan appear as deep oval craters versus the irregular shape of Maupertius. The latter may be misshapen perhaps because of many previous impacts filling it in (?).
C2: The Luna 17 landing site is south of Sharp and SW of the Promontorium Heraclides on the seemingly flat Mare Imbrium.