Baillaud is a
lunar
Lunar most commonly means "of or relating to the Moon".
Lunar may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Lunar'' (series), a series of video games
* "Lunar" (song), by David Guetta
* "Lunar", a song by Priestess from the 2009 album ''Prior t ...
impact crater
An impact crater is a circular depression in the surface of a solid astronomical object formed by the hypervelocity impact of a smaller object. In contrast to volcanic craters, which result from explosion or internal collapse, impact craters ...
that is located near the north limb of the
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet, with a diameter about one-quarter that of Earth (comparable to the width of ...
. The rim of the crater has been eroded and worn by a long history of impacts, leaving a hilly ridge surrounding the interior. The crater
Euctemon
Euctemon ( el, Εὐκτήμων, ''gen.'' Εὐκτήμωνος; fl. 432 BC) was an Athenian astronomer. He was a contemporary of Meton and worked closely with this astronomer. Little is known of his work apart from his partnership with Meton and ...
is intruding into the rim to the northeast, and the rim bulges outward to the northwest. At the south end of the crater is a gap connecting to the
lava
Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a fracture in the crust, on land or un ...
-flooded surface to the south.
The interior of Baillaud has been submerged by past lava flows, leaving a flat surface that is marked only by many craterlets and the satellite crater Baillaud E in the western half. The crater interior lacks a central peak or significant ridges.
Nearby craters include the irregular
Meton
Meton of Athens ( el, Μέτων ὁ Ἀθηναῖος; ''gen''.: Μέτωνος) was a Greek mathematician, astronomer, geometer, and engineer who lived in Athens in the 5th century BC. He is best known for calculations involving the eponymou ...
formation to the southwest, and
Petermann further to the east. Due to its location, Baillaud appears oblong because of foreshortening along the line of sight to
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...
.
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 Baillaud.
See also
*
11764 Benbaillaud, asteroid named after Benjamin Baillaud
*
1280 Baillauda, asteroid named after his son,
Jules Baillaud
References
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
Image of the crater http://www.lpod.org/coppermine/displayimage.php?pos=-1571
{{Craters on the Moon: A–B
Impact craters on the Moon