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Fermat (crater)

Coordinates: 22°43′S 19°47′E / 22.71°S 19.79°E / -22.71; 19.79
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Fermat
Coordinates22°43′S 19°47′E / 22.71°S 19.79°E / -22.71; 19.79
Diameter37.77 km
Depth2.0 km
Colongitude20° at sunrise
EponymPierre de Fermat
Selenochromatic Image (Si) of the crater area

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.[1]

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.[2] The crater is from the Pre-Imbrian period, 4.55 to 3.85 billion years ago.[1]

It is named for 17th century French mathematician Pierre de Fermat.[3][1]

Satellite craters

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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.[4]

Fermat Coordinates Diameter
A 21°48′S 19°36′E / 21.8°S 19.6°E / -21.8; 19.6 17 km
B 23°00′S 21°06′E / 23.0°S 21.1°E / -23.0; 21.1 11 km
C 21°00′S 18°30′E / 21.0°S 18.5°E / -21.0; 18.5 14 km
D 20°06′S 18°00′E / 20.1°S 18.0°E / -20.1; 18.0 13 km
E 19°54′S 19°54′E / 19.9°S 19.9°E / -19.9; 19.9 7 km
F 22°06′S 20°12′E / 22.1°S 20.2°E / -22.1; 20.2 5 km
G 19°24′S 20°00′E / 19.4°S 20.0°E / -19.4; 20.0 7 km
H 23°06′S 20°42′E / 23.1°S 20.7°E / -23.1; 20.7 5 km
P 23°36′S 19°18′E / 23.6°S 19.3°E / -23.6; 19.3 37 km

References

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  1. ^ a b c Autostar Suite Astronomer Edition. CD-ROM. Meade, April 2006.
  2. ^ Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 0-913135-17-8.
  3. ^ "Fermat (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  4. ^ Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-81528-2.
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