Peirce (crater)

Peirce

Apollo 17 mapping camera image
Coordinates	18°18′N 53°30′E / 18.3°N 53.5°E / 18.3; 53.5Coordinates: 18°18′N 53°30′E / 18.3°N 53.5°E / 18.3; 53.5
Diameter	18 km
Depth	1.8 km
Colongitude	307° at sunrise
Eponym	Benjamin Peirce

Peirce is a small lunar crater, named in honor of the mathematician Benjamin Peirce, which lies in the western part of Mare Crisium. That dark, circular lunar mare is located in the east-northeasterly part of the Moon's near side. Peirce lies to the north of the craters Yerkes and Picard, and southeast of Macrobius located outside the mare. Just over a crater diameter to the north of Peirce is the smaller Swift.

The rim of Peirce is roughly circular, with a slight outward bulge along the northwestern rim. There are indications of slumping along the sides of this section, producing a wider inner wall. It is generally bowl-shaped, and is marked only by a tiny craterlet along the inner southeast rim. The interior is marked by several furrows, ridges, as well as a low, conical hill near the midpoint.

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Peirce.

The following craters have been renamed by the IAU.