| Crater characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 84.5° S, 82.8° E |
| Diameter | 105 km |
| Depth | Unknown |
| Colongitude | 272° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Roald Amundsen |
Amundsen is a large lunar impact crater located near the south pole of the Moon. It lies along the southern lunar limb, and so is viewed from the side by an observer on the Earth. To the northwest is Scott crater, a formation of similar dimensions that is named for another Antarctic explorer. Nobile crater is attached to the western rim. The rim of Amundsen crater is slightly distended along the southern edge, and the terraced inner surface is wider at that point than eslewhere along the outer wall. The crater overlaps a smaller crater formation to the northwest, and 'Amundsen A' is attached to the northern rim. Just to the south of Amundsen is the smaller Faustini crater. The inner floor is relatively flat, with a pair of central peaks near the mid-point. Much of the crater floor is cloaked in shadow during the lunar day, with only the southern floor and the central peaks receiving sunlight.
Satellite craters
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater mid-point that is closest to Amundsen crater.
| Amundsen | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 81.8° S | 83.1° E | 74 km |
| C | 80.7° S | 83.2° E | 27 km |
References
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- Blue, Jennifer (July 25, 2007). Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS. Retrieved on 2007-08-05.
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- McDowell, Jonathan (July 15, 2007). Lunar Nomenclature. Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
- Menzel, D. H.; Minnaert, M.; Levin, B.; Dollfus, A.; Bell, B. (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by The Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews 12: 136.
- Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co.. ISBN 0-304-35469-4.
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