Fabricius

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Fabricius

Lat: 42.9°S, Long: 42.0°E, Diam: 78 km, Depth: 2.5 km, Rükl: 68, Eratosthenian

external image normal_janssen_fabricius_2005.03.16.m4_300_combined_denoised.jpg
Oliver Pettenpaul, Fabricius is the crater on the northern third of Janssen.

Images

LPOD Photo Gallery Lunar Orbiter Images

Maps

(LAC zone 114D2) LAC map Geologic map

Description


Description: Elger

(IAU Directions) FABRICIUS.--A ring-plain, 55 miles in diameter, with a lofty terraced border, rising on the S.E. to a height of nearly 10,000 feet above the interior. It is partially included by the rampart of Janssen, and the great rill-valley on the floor of the latter appears to cut through its S. wall. There is a long central mountain on the floor, with a prominent ridge extending along the W. side of it. E. of Fabricius (between it and the border of Janssen) lies a very irregular enclosure, with three distinct craters within it; and on the W., running from the wall to the W. side of Janssen, is a straight narrow valley. Both Fabricius and Janssen should be viewed under a low morning sun.

Description: Wikipedia

Fabricius

Additional Information


Nomenclature

  • Named for David Fabricius (Latinization of his proper name David Faber or David Goldschmidt) (March 9, 1564 - May 7, 1617), a German theologian who made two major discoveries in the early days of telescopic astronomy: the first known periodic variable star (as opposed to cataclysmic variables, such as novas and supernovas) and evidence that the Sun rotated on its axis.
  • The name Fabricius (in his nomenclature list, Fabritius on his map) was given by Riccioli.
  • Although the IAU Planetary Gazetteer lists only David Fabricius as an honoree, Riccioli's biographical compendium actually lists two Fabricius's: Paulus Fabricius (a name Riccioli found in Tycho's list of observers of the nova of 1572) and David Fabricius (a name he found cited in Kepler's Ephemerides circa 1615). Although the latter is now much better known to historians than the former, it must be difficult to tell if Riccioli had one or both in mind when he added the name to his lunar list. - Jim Mosher
  • Rimae Fabricius (an unofficial name from a dedicated explorer of lunar surface formations for the system of rilles on the floor of Fabricius).


LPOD Articles

Blacky and Wispy.
Fabulous Fab
Crateric Concatenation
Greek Theater Mask
Third Discovery
Young and Old (Fabricius and Metius)

Bibliography