Riccius (crater)

Riccius is a lunar impact crater that is located in the rugged, southeastern part of the Moon's near side. It was named after Italian astronomers Augustinus Riccius and Matteo Ricci.[1] It lies within one crater diameter southeast of the crater Rabbi Levi. To the east-northeast is Stiborius and due south is Nicolai.

Riccius

Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Coordinates	36.9°S 26.5°E / -36.9; 26.5
Diameter	71 km
Depth	1.8 km
Colongitude	335° at sunrise
Eponym	Augustinus Riccius and Matteo Ricci

This formation has been so heavily bombarded by subsequent impacts that it is nearly unrecognizable as a crater. Only the western and southwestern parts of the rim remains intact, the remainder having been completely obliterated by small craters. These craters also occupy parts of the northern and southern floor. Only a section in the northeast and near the intact western rim remain unmarked. This is perhaps the most defaced crater formation on the Moon that possesses an eponym.

Satellite craters

Ricci and its 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 Riccius.

Riccius	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	35.9° S	27.4° E	24 km
B	37.5° S	27.8° E	19 km
C	36.2° S	28.8° E	24 km
D	40.3° S	28.9° E	17 km
E	39.9° S	26.4° E	22 km
G	38.5° S	24.4° E	13 km
H	35.4° S	26.1° E	20 km
J	40.7° S	26.0° E	13 km
K	39.1° S	25.7° E	6 km
L	41.5° S	26.8° E	8 km
M	37.8° S	26.4° E	14 km
N	41.1° S	27.6° E	13 km
O	36.2° S	27.8° E	9 km
P	35.7° S	28.1° E	11 km
R	41.4° S	30.7° E	7 km
S	37.0° S	26.5° E	11 km
T	36.3° S	25.0° E	7 km
W	38.9° S	25.2° E	19 km
X	38.8° S	26.7° E	11 km
Y	35.8° S	29.1° E	10 km

References

1. "Riccius". Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 19 August 2017.

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