Archimedes (crater)

Archimedes is a large impact crater on the Moon. It sits on the edge of a dark area called Mare Imbrium. Scientists named it Archimedes in 1935. Studying craters like Archimedes helps us learn about the Moon and other planets.

Description

Archimedes is a large crater on the Moon, near a dark area called Mare Imbrium. It is the biggest crater in that area. The edges of the crater have layers and bright marks from material thrown out when it formed, but it does not have bright streaks like younger craters.

Inside Archimedes, there is no tall central hill, and the floor is covered with smooth lava. There are only a few tiny craters near the edges. Some thin, bright lines on the floor likely came from an impact nearby.

Near Archimedes, there are mountains called Montes Archimedes, a smooth plain named Palus Putredinis with long, narrow valleys called Rimae Archimedes, and other craters such as Autolycus and Aristillus. A wrinkled ridge runs away from Archimedes toward the north-northwest.

The area between Archimedes and Autolycus is where a Soviet probe called Luna 2 landed on the Moon in 1959, becoming the first human-made object to reach the lunar surface.

This crater is named after the famous Greek scientist Archimedes. The name was given by Giovanni Riccioli, and his naming system is still used today. Earlier maps had different names for this crater.

Satellite craters

Smaller craters around Archimedes have letters to show where they are. Some of these craters have new names chosen by the IAU:

• Archimedes A - See Bancroft (crater).
• Archimedes F - See MacMillan (crater).
• Archimedes K - See Spurr (crater).