|
(English version,
Wikipedia copyright)
Curtius
is a lunar impact crater that is located in the southern part of the Moon.
From the Earth the crater appears foreshortened, making it more difficult to
observe some detail. Nevertheless this is a large crater that can be readily
observed in even small telescopes. Curtius is located within one-crater
diameter of the still-larger Moretus crater to the southwest. To the
northeast is the smaller Pentland crater.
The outer rim
of Curtius has been softened due to impact erosion, but it retains much of
its original structure. Along the north and northwest parts of the rim are a
pair of notable outward bulges that ruin the overall symmetry of the crater.
There is a small satellite crater 'Curtius E' lying across the eastern rim,
and a small, bowl-shaped craterlet 'Curtius A' along the southern rim.
The interior
floor is relatively level, with a low, rounded central peaks near the
mid-point. The northern part of the inner wall has extended further into the
crater floor than elsewehere, producing a slightly irregular surface. The
floor is covered by a number of tiny craterlets, but there are no other
impacts of note across the interior.
|
