Merrill 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 ...
. It is located in the high northern
latitude
In geography, latitude is a geographic coordinate system, geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body. Latitude is given as an angle that ranges from −90° at t ...
s, on the
far side. Less than one crater diameter to the south-southwest of Merrill is the similar
Niepce, and to the east along the northern limb is the larger
Brianchon.
The outer rim of Merrill is worn and the features are softened, but only a few impact craters lie along the edge and inner side. The inner walls are uneven slopes down to the relatively flat interior floor. This surface is marked by several small craterlets, including a pair near the midpoint. The
satellite
A satellite or an artificial satellite is an object, typically a spacecraft, placed into orbit around a celestial body. They have a variety of uses, including communication relay, weather forecasting, navigation ( GPS), broadcasting, scient ...
craters Merrill X and Merrill Y form a merged, dual-lobed feature that is attached to the northern outer rim of Merrill.
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 Merrill.
References
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Impact craters on the Moon