Capella (crater)

Capella
	Apollo 16 image
Coordinates	7°36′S 34°54′E / 7.6°S 34.9°E
Diameter	48.13 km (29.91 mi)
Depth	3.5 km (2.2 mi)
Colongitude	325° at sunrise
Eponym	Martianus Capella

Capella is a lunar impact crater 48 km (30 mi)^[1] in diameter that lies to the north of the Mare Nectaris, in a rugged region with many small impact craters.^[3] It intrudes slightly into the eastern rim of the crater Isidorus,^[4] a feature only slightly smaller in diameter.^[5]^: 79

The outer circumferential wall of Capella is low but relatively thick and irregular,^[6] with a large promontory intruding on the south-eastern side.^[7] The crater is crossed by a deep rift, the Vallis Capella, which passes directly through Capella from the north rim through the southeast side of the wall, and extends out both sides for a combined distance of 110 kilometers. This feature was formed by a chain of craters.^[8] In the middle of the crater is a wide, round peak rising 1.2 km above the crater floor, with a craterlet at the top.^[9]^[7] The western side of the crater is dotted with impact debris, forming clusters of small hills.

This crater was named after Roman astronomer Martianus Capella (c. A.D. 400-unkn). Its designation was officially adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1935.^[1]

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 Capella.^[10]

Capella^[5]^: 294	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	7.6° S	37.2° E	13 km
B	9.4° S	36.8° E	10 km
C	5.7° S	36.3° E	11 km
D	6.7° S	37.6° E	8 km
E	7.5° S	37.7° E	16 km
F	9.2° S	35.4° E	14 km
G	6.8° S	36.9° E	12 km
H	8.1° S	37.4° E	9 km
J	9.4° S	36.0° E	9 km
M	4.4° S	37.0° E	12 km
R	6.0° S	35.2° E	7 km
T	6.9° S	34.2° E	6 km

References

1 2 3 "Capella". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
↑ Pike, R. J. (September 1976). "Crater Dimensions from Apollo Data and Supplemental Sources". The Moon. 15 (3–4): 463–477. Bibcode:1976Moon...15..463P. doi:10.1007/BF00562253.
↑ Grego, Peter (2005). The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers' Observing Guides Series. London: Springer-Verlag. p. 216. ISBN 1-85233-748-6.
↑ Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. pp. 144, 154–159. Reprint: ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3
1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
↑ Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
1 2 Wlasuk, Peter T. (2013). Observing the Moon. The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4471-0483-4.
↑ Wood, Charles A. (October 5, 2006). "Land of Manna". Lunar Photo of the Day. Retrieved 2026-04-26. Shows the region around Capella and discusses Capella Valley.
↑ Lawrence, Pete (April 7, 2025). "How to see the spear-shaped rift on the Moon known as Vallis Capella". BBC Sky at Night. BBC. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
↑ Grego, P. (2015). "Satellite Crater". In Hargitai, H.; Kereszturi, Á. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. New York, NY: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-3134-3_328.

External links

Capella, the-moon.us

[GPN-1] 1 2 3 "Capella". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.

[Pike_1976-2] Pike, R. J. (September 1976). "Crater Dimensions from Apollo Data and Supplemental Sources". The Moon. 15 (3–4): 463–477. Bibcode:1976Moon...15..463P. doi:10.1007/BF00562253.

[Grego_2005-3] Grego, Peter (2005). The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers' Observing Guides Series. London: Springer-Verlag. p. 216. ISBN 1-85233-748-6.

[Webb_1962-4] Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. pp. 144, 154–159. Reprint: ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3

[Bussey_Spudis_2004-5] 1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.

[Moore_2001-6] Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.

[Wlasuk_2013-7] 1 2 Wlasuk, Peter T. (2013). Observing the Moon. The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4471-0483-4.

[LPD_2006-8] Wood, Charles A. (October 5, 2006). "Land of Manna". Lunar Photo of the Day. Retrieved 2026-04-26. Shows the region around Capella and discusses Capella Valley.

[Lawrence_2025-9] Lawrence, Pete (April 7, 2025). "How to see the spear-shaped rift on the Moon known as Vallis Capella". BBC Sky at Night. BBC. Retrieved 2026-04-27.

[Grego_2015-10] Grego, P. (2015). "Satellite Crater". In Hargitai, H.; Kereszturi, Á. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. New York, NY: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-3134-3_328.

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Satellite craters

References

External links