Coordinates | 18°18′N 53°30′E / 18.3°N 53.5°E |
---|---|
Diameter | 19 km |
Depth | 1.8 km |
Colongitude | 307° at sunrise |
Eponym | Benjamin Peirce |
Peirce is a small lunar impact crater in the western part of Mare Crisium. That dark, circular lunar mare is located in the east-northeasterly part of the Moon's near side. It was named after the American mathematician Benjamin Peirce.[1] Peirce lies to the north of the craters Yerkes and Picard, and southeast of Macrobius located outside the mare. Just over a crater diameter to the north of Peirce is the smaller Swift. To the northwest is the wrinkle ridge Dorsum Oppel.
The rim of Peirce is roughly circular, with a slight outward bulge along the northwestern rim. There are indications of slumping along the sides of this section, producing a wider inner wall. It is generally bowl-shaped, and is marked only by a tiny craterlet along the inner southeast rim. The interior is marked by several furrows, ridges, as well as a low, conical hill near the midpoint.
Peirce is a crater of Eratosthenian age.[2]
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Peirce.
Peirce | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
---|---|---|---|
C | 18.8° N | 49.9° E | 19 km |
The following craters have been renamed by the IAU.