Gay-Lussac
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Gay-Lussac
Lat: 13.9°N, Long: 20.8°W, Diam: 26 km, Depth: 0.83 km, Rükl: 31 |
LO-IV-126H Gay-Lussac is in the center. The 15-km diameter crater to the southeast of Gay-Lussac is Gay-Lussac A. The elongated 5-km crater near the top, that looks like the head of snake, is Gay-Lussac D.
Images
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Maps
(LAC zone 58A2) LAC map Geologic map
Description
Description: Elger
(IAU Directions) GAY-LUSSAC.--A very interesting ring-plain, 15 miles in diameter, situated in the midst of the Carpathian Highlands N. of Copernicus, with a smaller but brighter and deeper formation (Gay-Lussac A) on the S.E. of it, and a conspicuous little crater, not more than 2 or 3 miles in diameter, between the two. The interior of Gay-Lussac is traversed by two coarse clefts, lying nearly in a meridional direction. The more westerly runs from the foot of the S. wall, near the little crater just mentioned, across the floor to the low N. border, which it apparently cuts through, and extends for some distance beyond, terminating in a great oval expansion. The other, which is not shown in the maps, is closely parallel to it, and can be traced up to the N. border, but not farther. Schmidt represents the first as a crater-row, which it probably is, as it varies considerably in width. From the S.W. side of the formation extends a long cleft, terminating at the end of a prominent spur from the S. side of the Carpathians. There are also two remarkable rill-like valleys, commencing on the N. of Gay-Lussac A, which curve round the E. side of Gay-Lussac.
Description: Wikipedia
Additional Information
- Depth data from Kurt Fisher database
- Arthur, 1974: 0.83 km
- Westfall, 2000: 0.83 km
- Viscardy, 1985: 0.83 km
- Cherrington, 1969: 1.7 km
- From the shadows in LO-IV-126H, the east wall of Gay-Lussac is at least 900 m tall. Gay-Lussac A is about 2,600 m deep; while Gay-Lussac D is about 910 m deep.
- Included in ALPO list of bright ray craters
Nomenclature
Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac (December 6, 1778 - May 9, 1850) was a French chemist and physicist. He is known mostly for two laws related to gases, and for his work on alcohol-water mixtures, which led to the degrees Gay-Lussac used to measure alcoholic beverages in many countries. In 1804 he made a hot-air balloon ascent with Jean-Baptiste Biot to a height of 6.4 kilometres in an early investigation of the Earth's atmosphere. He wanted to collect sample of the air at different heights to record differences in temperature and moisture.
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