Mairan (crater)
Lunar Orbiter 4 image
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| Coordinates | 41°36′N 43°24′W / 41.6°N 43.4°WCoordinates: 41°36′N 43°24′W / 41.6°N 43.4°W |
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| Diameter | 40 km |
| Depth | 3.4 km |
| Colongitude | 44° at sunrise |
| Eponym | Jean J. d'Ortous de Mairan |
Mairan is a lunar impact crater that is located on a highland peninsula between Oceanus Procellarum to the west and Mare Imbrium to the east. To the north-northeast is the comparably sized crater Sharp. Northwest of Mairan is the heavily eroded Louville.
The outer rim of Mairan has not been significantly eroded or impacted, and retains a sharp edge. The surface around Mairan is rough and irregular, with a multitude of many tiny craters, particularly to the south and west. The inner walls display some , and flow down to a relatively flat interior floor.
In the mare, due west of Mairan, is a small lunar dome designated Mairan T with tiny crater at the summit (in official IAU nomenclature this name refers only to the crater). Its width is about 7 km, and height is about 800 m. It is one of unusually steep and bright domes which are thought to be formed by very viscous, high-Si lava. There is also a sinuous rille along the southwest edge of the highland peninsula containing Mairan. It is designated Rima Mairan, and follows a north–south course for a length of about 100 kilometers.
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Mairan.
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