Werner is a prominent
lunar impact crater that lies in the rugged south-central highlands 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 ...
. It was named after the 15th-century German mathematician and astronomer
Johannes Werner. It is almost joined with the crater
Aliacensis to the southeast, and the pair form a rugged valley in the intervening gap. Due west of Werner is the distorted
Regiomontanus, and to the north is the remains of
Blanchinus. It is from the
Eratosthenian period, which lasted from 3.2 to 1.1 billion years ago.
The rim of Werner shows little appearance of wear, and is much younger and less eroded than the other large craters in the surroundings. The interior wall is
terraced, and there is a noticeable rampart on the exterior. There are several low rises on the crater floor and a notable central peak. Its highly
terraced walls attain peaks of almost 1,500 feet. The crater is 45 miles (70 kilometers) in diameter, and the difference in height between its rim and its deepest parts is 4.2 kilometers.
[''Autostar Suite Astronomer Edition''. CD-ROM. Meade, April 2006.]
Near the Werner crater, a
chiaroscuro effect created by the dark craters and their lit rims is visible for several hours before first quarter forms an
X.
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 Werner.
References
External links
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Impact craters on the Moon
Eratosthenian