description Maurolycus Overview
Maurolycus is a large and heavily eroded impact crater located in the heavily cratered southern highlands of the Moon. The formation measures approximately 114 kilometers in diameter and features high, terraced walls that rise significantly above the surrounding terrain. Its floor is a complex mix of uneven plains, multiple central peaks, and smaller overlapping satellite craters that resulted from subsequent impacts. Maurolycus is a pre-Nectarian crater, indicating that it has survived essentially intact since the Moon's early geological history.
help Maurolycus FAQ
Where is Maurolycus crater on the Moon?
Maurolycus lies in the heavily cratered southern highlands of the Moon's near side. Its position near the limb makes its circular form appear foreshortened when viewed from Earth.
Why does Maurolycus look older than Copernicus or Kepler?
Its rim and floor have been battered by later impacts, including overlapping satellite craters. It also lacks the bright, extensive ray systems associated with geologically younger craters such as Copernicus and Kepler.
How large is Maurolycus crater?
Maurolycus is about 114 kilometers in diameter. Its broad, worn structure dominates a crowded section of the southern lunar highlands.
Who was the lunar crater Maurolycus named after?
It honors Francesco Maurolico, a 16th-century Sicilian mathematician and astronomer. Maurolico worked on geometry, optics, and the editing of ancient mathematical texts.
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