Furnerius A: Tiny Moon Crater That Can Splash its Debris Over Nearly Half of the Moon’s Surface

The week of May 24-30 takes us from Lunar Day 13 to Day 20. This week we will highlight the crater Furnerius A, viewable late Thursday evening.

Furnerius A: [SE/N15] On Day 3 we introduced you to Furnerius A and asked you to keep an eye on its ray system throughout the lunation. Furnerius A is only 7 miles in diameter but produces a ray that extends for 1,200 miles! How is it that such a tiny crater can splash its debris over nearly half of the Moon’s surface! Tonight, the entire length of the ray should be clearly visible. (Look closely on the Field Map for the tiny arrow that points out Furnerius A, it’s easy to miss.)

OF ADDITIONAL INTEREST IN SPACE:
On May 26th at 5:11 a.m. from Denver westward, observers will enjoy a total eclipse of the Moon.

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It is highly recommended that you get a copy of Sky and Telescope’s Field Map of the Moon, the very finest Moon map available for use at the telescope. It is available for $10.95 at www.skyandtelescope.com and on Amazon. All features mentioned in this blog will be keyed to the grid on the Field Map and will look like this: Plato: [NW/D9]

Credits:
Courtesy of Gray Photography of Corpus Christi, Texas
Lunar photos: NASA / USGS / BMDO / LROC / ASU / DLR / LOLA / Moon Globe. Used by permission

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Andrew Planck

Author and Astronomer Andrew Planck shepherds you to the moon and its mysteries of intrigue and surprise. Learn about the moon’s most fascinating objects, understand how the moon was formed and the names of many of the craters … and why they honor individuals who have changed the course of history.

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