Stadius (crater)

lunar crater data
latitude=10.5
N_or_S=N
longitude=13.7
E_or_W=W
diameter=69 km
depth=None
colong=13
eponym=Johannes Stadius

Stadius is a ghostly remnant of an ancient lunar crater that has been nearly obliterated by basaltic lava flows. It lies to the southwest of the much younger crater Eratosthenes, at the north edge of Mare Insularum where the mare joins Sinus Aestuum. To the west is the prominent ray crater Copernicus, and multiple secondary craters from the Copernican ejecta cover this area. To the northwest is a chain of craters that continue in a roughly linear formation until reaching Mare Imbrium.

Only the northwestern rim of Stadius remains nearly intact, and it joins with a north-running ridge line that reaches the western of Eratosthenes. The remainder of the formation forms a ghostly trace of the original rim, created from a few rises in the surface, and there is no indication of a central peak. The flat crater floor is pock-marked by craterlets, many of which were generated by secondary impacts from the creation of Copernicus. [cite web
last = Wood | first = Chuck | date = October 26, 2007
url = http://www.lpod.org/?m=20071026
title = Before and After
publisher = Lunar Photo of the Day
accessdate = 2007-10-29 ]

atellite 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 Stadius.

References