Marinus is a
lunar impact crater
An impact crater is a depression (geology), depression in the surface of a solid astronomical body formed by the hypervelocity impact event, impact of a smaller object. In contrast to volcanic craters, which result from explosion or internal c ...
that is located near the southeastern limb of the
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It Orbit of the Moon, orbits around Earth at Lunar distance, an average distance of (; about 30 times Earth diameter, Earth's diameter). The Moon rotation, rotates, with a rotation period (lunar ...
. At this location it is viewed at an oblique angle from the
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...
, limiting the amount of detail that can be observed. It lies due north of the slightly larger and dark-floored crater
Oken. To the east is the northern part of the
Mare Australe.
This is a considerably worn crater, although it retains its generally circular formation. A pair of smaller craters overlies most of the south-southeastern rim. Attached to the northwestern rim is Marinus R, and the crater intrudes into Marinus B to the west. Within the crater, the floor is nearly level and has a slightly lower
albedo
Albedo ( ; ) is the fraction of sunlight that is Diffuse reflection, diffusely reflected by a body. It is measured on a scale from 0 (corresponding to a black body that absorbs all incident radiation) to 1 (corresponding to a body that reflects ...
than its surroundings. The interior surface is marked by a number of tiny craterlets and dimples, as is the rim and inner wall.
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 Marinus.
References
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
{{refend
Impact craters on the Moon