Hippalus is the remnant of a
lunarimpact crater on the eastern edge of
Mare Humorum. It was named after ancient Greek explorer
Hippalus.[1] To the southeast is the crater
Campanus, and to the northwest is the small flooded crater
Loewy.
The southwest rim of Hippalus is missing, and the crater forms a bay along the edge of the
mare. The surviving rim is worn and eroded, forming a low, circular mountain range. The
lava-flooded floor of Hippalus is bisected by a wide
rille belonging to the Rimae Hippalus. This rille follows a course to the south before curving gently to the southwest for a total length of 240 kilometers. The crater floor to the east of this rille is more rugged than the area in the western half.
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 Hippalus.
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.