Kircher (crater)

lunar crater data
latitude=67.1
N_or_S=S
longitude=45.3
E_or_W=W
diameter=72 km
depth=4.3 km
colong=47
eponym=Athanasius Kircher

Kircher is a lunar crater that is located in the south-southwestern part of the Moon, near the southern limb. In this position the crater appears foreshortened when viewed from the Earth. It lies than one crater diameter due south of Bettinus crater, and is nearly attached to Wilson crater along the south-southeast rim of Kircher.

This crater is distinctive for an interior floor that is level and nearly featureless. It is marked only by a few tiny craterlets, with a single small craterlet near the north-northeast inner wall. The rim and inner wall has been worn and rounded by impacts, although only a few tint craters lie across the rim. Attached to the outside of the western rim is a crater pair, with the larger of the two designated 'Kircher D'. A small, cup-shaped crater lies on the narrow neck of ground between Kircher and Wilson crater.

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 Kircher crater.

References