Herigonius is a small
lunar 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 crater ...
that is located in the southern part of the
Oceanus Procellarum
Oceanus Procellarum ( la, Ōceanus procellārum, lit=Ocean of Storms) is a vast lunar mare on the western edge of the near side of the Moon. It is the only one of the lunar maria to be called an "Oceanus" (ocean), due to its size: Oceanus Proc ...
, to the northeast of the crater
Gassendi. It was named after French mathematician and astronomer
Pierre Hérigone
Pierre Hérigone (Latinized as Petrus Herigonius) (1580–1643) was a French mathematician and astronomer.
Of Basque people, Basque origin, Hérigone taught in Paris for most of his life.
Works
Only one work by Hérigone is known to exist: ''Cur ...
.
Herigonius is roughly circular, with an inward bulge and narrower inner wall along the northeast. In the interior of the sloping inner walls is a floor about half the diameter of the crater.
About 60 kilometers to the west of Herigonius is a sinuous
rille
Rille (German for 'groove') is typically used to describe any of the long, narrow depressions in the surface of the Moon that resemble channels. The Latin term is ''rima'', plural ''rimae''. Typically, a rille can be several kilometers wi ...
designated Rimae Herigonius. This cleft is about 100 kilometers in length and runs generally in a north–south direction, while curving to the east at the north end.
Two mountains within a highland mass informally called
"The Helmet" (by the
Apollo 16 crew) are informally named Herigonius Eta (η) and Herigonius Pi (π). Eta is the larger mountain on the northern edge of the Helmet, and Pi is along the southwest edge. North and northwest of the crater is the
wrinkle ridge Dorsa Ewing, which also contacts Rimae Herigonius.
Image:Herigonius_crater_AS16-119-19156.jpg, Oblique image also from Apollo 16
File:Herigonius - LROC - WAC.JPG, Regional map
Image:Rimae Herigonius AS16-M-2990.jpg, Most of the Rimae Herigonius and Herigonius K crater (below center). The rimae (rilles) extend to the south out of the picture.
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 Herigonius.
References
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External links
Herigonius K Impact Melt Flow-
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter page with images
Impact craters on the Moon