Cusanus (crater)


Cusanus is a lunar impact crater that is located near the northeastern limb of the Moon. In this location the crater appears very foreshortened when observed from the Earth, and its visibility is affected by libration. The northern rim of Cusanus is nearly joined to the south-southeastern rim of the larger crater Petermann. To the west is Baillaud and to the southeast is Hayn.
The rim of this crater has been eroded and rounded due to a history of minor impacts. The s are still visible along the inner walls, although they are less sharply defined compared to younger crater formations. A pair of tiny craters form a notch along the eastern rim, and there is a slight inward bulge along the western inner wall.
The interior has been resurfaced with lava, leaving a flat and relatively featureless floor. But the lava was not of sufficient depth to significantly reduce the width of the inner walls.
The name of the crater was approved by the IAU in 1935.

Satellite craters

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Cusanus.
CusanusLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
A70.6° N64.0° E16 km
B70.1° N64.5° E21 km
C70.4° N60.8° E25 km
E72.0° N72.3° E10 km
F70.7° N73.3° E10 km
G69.9° N76.9° E10 km
H69.4° N59.4° E8 km