Spitzbergen Mountains/ Montes Spitzbergensis

(discontinued IAU names; current IAU name: Montes Spitzbergen)

Lat: 35.0°N, Long: 5.0°W, Diam: 60 km, Height: 1.4 km, Rükl: 12

Height data from Kurt Fisher database
- Viscardy, 1985: 1.4 km
- Cherrington, 1969: 1.4 km
Several of the peaks were measured, as was the height of the wrinkle ridge passing to the west of the mountains. The information was published by Steve Boint in the Summer 2007 issue of Selenology: Journal of the American Lunar Society selenologysummer07a. - fatastronomer fatastronomer

Nomenclature

The IAU name is German for "sharp peaks", and was named for the formations resemblance to the terrestrial island group by Mary Blagg in Named Lunar Formations (1935) (Whitaker, p. 229). Much earlier, by Johann Schröter had labeled the formation Kirch.
The Spitzbergen mountains are said to have been informally known as the Flock of Sheep by "Santa Barbara variable star lover" Hugh G. Boutell (Copeland, 1953). Research: - DannyCaes DannyCaes Feb 22, 2008
Sometimes called Montes Spitzbergensis, as on Chart 18 in the Times Atlas of the Moon, and also on SLC section D2 (System of Lunar Craters, 1966).
On that same chart (Chart 18 in the Times Atlas), the individual peaks of these mountains received Greek letter designations. From north to south: Mu, Kappa, Epsilon, Beta, Theta, Gamma, and Alpha. On SLC D2 however, peak Theta was called Delta.

Piton Gamma, the J-shaped hillock or island north-northeast of Montes Spitzbergen and south-southwest of Mons Piton, is unofficially called Jan Mayen by Danny Caes. The terrestrial island Jan Mayen is also located near the Spitzbergen group (Svalbard). - DannyCaes DannyCaes Feb 22, 2008

Harold Hill. A Portfolio of Lunar Drawings, pages 60, 61.

This page has been edited 1 times. The last modification was made by - tychocrater tychocrater on Jun 13, 2009 3:24 pm - afx3u2