Mezentsev 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 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
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 ...
's
far side. It lies just to the west of the smaller
Niepce. To the southwest is the larger
Stebbins, to the west-southwest is
Hippocrates
Hippocrates of Kos (; ; ), also known as Hippocrates II, was a Greek physician and philosopher of the Classical Greece, classical period who is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine. He is traditionally referr ...
and to the northwest is
Heymans.
This is a worn and eroded crater with a low outer rim and a relatively level interior. The circular nature of the rim can still be seen, but a number of impacts lie across the rim and the edge is generally softened and rounded. A smaller, unnamed crater is attached to the southwestern rim, with the satellite crater Mezentsev S laid across the western rim of this feature. The interior floor is roughly level but with some small craterlets marking the surface. The most prominent of these is a fresh, cup-shaped crater in the western half of the interior.
On some maps this crater has been labelled 'Mesentsev'.
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 Mezentsev.
References
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
{{refend
Impact craters on the Moon