Maxwell is a
crater on the
far side 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 ...
named after the physicist
James C. Maxwell. It lies in the southwestern part of the larger crater
Richardson. The southern part of Maxwell is overlain in turn by the partly flooded
Lomonosov. Less than one crater diameter to the southwest is the larger
Joliot.
The surviving outer rim of Maxwell is generally uneven and ill-defined where it overlies Richardson. Only along the western edge is it fairly well organized, but even there it is worn and eroded. The interior floor is relatively level and displays patches of low-
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 ...
material, usually an indication of
basalt
Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...
ic
lava
Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a Natural satellite, moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a Fissure vent, fractu ...
, possibly from impact melt. However the floor is dusted with material from the
ray system
In planetary geology, a ray system comprises radial streaks of fine '' ejecta'' thrown out during the formation of an impact crater, looking somewhat like many thin spokes coming from the hub of a wheel. The rays may extend for lengths up to ...
of
Giordano Bruno
Giordano Bruno ( , ; ; born Filippo Bruno; January or February 1548 – 17 February 1600) was an Italian philosopher, poet, alchemist, astrologer, cosmological theorist, and esotericist. He is known for his cosmological theories, which concep ...
, located to the north-northeast, which has lightened the surface. The southern part of the interior floor is overlain by the outer
rampart
Rampart may refer to:
* Rampart (fortification), a defensive wall or bank around a castle, fort or settlement
Rampart may also refer to:
* LAPD Rampart Division, a division of the Los Angeles Police Department
** Rampart scandal, a blanket ter ...
of Lomonosov.
Prior to formal naming in 1961 by the
IAU, this crater was known as ''Crater 112''.
Lunar Farside Chart (LFC-1A)
/ref>
References
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* {{cite book
, first = Peter T.
, last = Wlasuk
, date = 2000
, title = Observing the Moon
, publisher = Springer
, isbn = 978-1-85233-193-1
Impact craters on the Moon
James Clerk Maxwell