 Lunar Orbiter 4 image | |
| Coordinates | 22°43′S 19°47′E / 22.71°S 19.79°E / -22.71; 19.79 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 37.77 km |
| Depth | 2.58 km (1.60 mi)[1] |
| Colongitude | 20° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Pierre de Fermat |
Fermat is a lunar impact crater located to the west of the Rupes Altai escarpment. To the west-southwest is the larger crater Sacrobosco, and to the southwest is the irregular Pons. It is 39 kilometers in diameter and two kilometers deep.[2]
The rim of Fermat is worn and somewhat irregular, but still possesses an outer rampart. The north rim is indented by a double crater formation that includes Fermat A. The floor is relatively flat and does not have a central rise.[3] The crater is from the Pre-Imbrian period, 4.55 to 3.85 billion years ago.[2]
It is named for 17th century French mathematician Pierre de Fermat.[4][2]
Satellite craters
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Fermat.[5]
References
- Joshi, Maitri P. (February 2017). "Physical properties of lunar craters". Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics. 17 (3). id. 24. Bibcode:2017RAA....17...24J. doi:10.1088/1674-4527/17/3/24.
- Autostar Suite Astronomer Edition. CD-ROM. Meade, April 2006.
- Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 0-913135-17-8.
- "Fermat (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
- Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-81528-2.