Thebit

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Thebit

Lat: 22.0°S, Long: 4.0°W, Diam: 56 km, Depth: 3.27 km, Rükl: 55, Upper Imbrian

external image normal_thebit_050807_04h52tu.jpg
François Emond

Images

LPOD Photo Gallery Lunar Orbiter Images Apollo Images

Orbital Apollo photographs of Thebit
- Apollo 12's south looking color-Hasselblad frames AS12-51-7579 and 7580 show Thebit very near the central part of the curved horizon.
- Thebit was also captured on the last 11 frames of REV 26, made by Apollo 16's south looking mapping-metric Fairchild camera. On these frames, Thebit is noticeable very near the curved horizon, close to the morning terminator.
- AS16-M-2479 of REV 48 shows Thebit near the central part of the curved horizon.
- Note that it is possible to create wonderful 3D-Stereo views of Thebit when the oblique Fairchild frames are rotated 90 degrees clockwise.
- Research Apollo photography: Danny Caes

Maps

(LAC zone 95A3) LAC map Geologic map

Description


Description: Elger

(IAU Directions) THEBIT.--A fine ring-plain, 32 miles in diameter, on the mountainous E. margin of the Mare Nubium, N.W. of Purbach. Its irregular rampart is prominently terraced, and its continuity on the N.W. interrupted by a large deep crater (Thebit A), at least 9 miles in diameter, which has in its turn a smaller crater, of about half this size, on its margin, and a small central mountain within, which was once considered a good optical test, though it is not a difficult object in a 4 inch achromatic, if it is looked for at a favourable phase. The border of Thebit rises at one place on the N.E. to a height of nearly 10,000 feet above the interior, which includes much detail. The W. wall of Thebit A attains the same height above its floor, which is depressed more than 5,000 feet below the Mare.

Note: the smaller crater that Elger mentions on the margin of Thebit A is now known as Thebit L. Research Danny Caes.

Description: Wikipedia

Thebit

Additional Information


Nomenclature

  • Named for Abu'l Hasan Thabit ibn Qurra' ibn Marwan al-Sabi al-Harrani (836 – February 18, 901), an Arab astronomer and mathematician, who was known as Thebit in Latin.
  • This name has continued unchanged since its original usage for this feature on Riccioli's map (Whitaker, p. 215).
  • The large (more-or-less circle shaped) region immediately westward of Thebit (in which Birt and Rupes Recta are located) is often (unofficially) called Ancient Thebit.


LPOD Articles

Odd Interiors
Succession

Bibliography

  • Wood, C.A. 20__. Ancient Thebit and Huygens's Sword. S&T Online Article.