Helicon (top right) area in selenochromatic format holding some normal (yellow)/pyroclastic(red) selenochromatic landmarksHighly oblique view of Helicon (left) and
Le Verrier (right). The mountain on the horizon at left is
Promontorium Laplace, about 180 km beyond Helicon. Note that Helicon's ejecta is buried by the mare lava, but Le Verrier's is not. From
Apollo 15.Another oblique view of Helicon (left), at a higher sun angle. Also from Apollo 15.
Helicon is a small
lunarimpact crater that is located on the north part of the
Mare Imbrium. The crater was named after 4th century BC Greek astronomer
Helicon of Cyzicus,[1] a friend and disciple of
Plato.[2] To the northwest is the prominent
Sinus Iridum, a mountain-ringed bay on the
mare. Just to the east is the slightly smaller crater
Le Verrier.
Helicon is a nearly circular formation with inner walls that curve down to a relatively flat floor. There is a tiny craterlet located at the midpoint of the interior, and a small craterlet along the southwestern rim.
Satellite craters
According to convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Helicon.
Helicon
Latitude
Longitude
Diameter
B
38.0° N
21.3° W
6 km
C
40.1° N
26.2° W
1 km
E
40.5° N
24.1° W
3 km
G
41.7° N
24.9° W
2 km
References
^"Helicon (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
Menzel, D. H.; Minnaert, M.; Levin, B.; Dollfus, A.; Bell, B. (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by the Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews. 12 (2): 136–186.
Bibcode:
1971SSRv...12..136M.
doi:
10.1007/BF00171763.
S2CID122125855.
Wood, Chuck (2006-08-20).
"Out the Porthole". Lunar Photo of the Day. Retrieved 2016-09-18., excellent earth-based image of Sinus Iridum and vicinity, including Helicon and Le Verrier