Hyginus (crater)
Lunar Orbiter 4 image
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| Coordinates | 7°48′N 6°18′E / 7.8°N 6.3°ECoordinates: 7°48′N 6°18′E / 7.8°N 6.3°E |
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| Diameter | 11 km |
| Depth | 0.8 km |
| Colongitude | 354° at sunrise |
| Eponym | C. Julius Hyginus |
Hyginus is a small lunar caldera located at the east end of the Sinus Medii. Its rim is split by a long, linear rille Rima Hyginus that branches to the northwest and to the east-southeast for a total length of 220 kilometers. The crater is deeper than the rille, and lies at the bend where they intersect. Together the crater Hyginus and Rima Hyginus form a distinctive and prominent feature in an otherwise flat surface. Smaller craterlets can also be discerned along the length of this rille, possibly caused by a collapse of an underlying structure.
Hyginus is one of the few craters on the Moon that was not created as a result of an impact, and is instead believed to be volcanic in origin. It lacks the raised outer rim that is typical with impact craters.
Hyginus was also considered a possible landing site during the Apollo Program, because it was thought to possibly be a site of active volcanism.
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Hyginus.
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Wikipedia