Hawthorne (crater)

Hawthorne is a relatively small impact crater located in the heavily cratered southern hemisphere of the Moon, on the far side. It lies within the Apollo basin, a large, multi-ringed impact structure.

Location and Characteristics

The crater's coordinates are approximately 35.7° S latitude and 150.7° W longitude. Hawthorne is a simple crater, characterized by a bowl-shaped depression and a raised rim. Its diameter is approximately 13 kilometers. Like other craters on the lunar far side, it is heavily eroded from billions of years of micrometeorite impacts and other space weathering processes. The interior walls slope down relatively smoothly to the crater floor.

Context and Significance

Hawthorne crater is one of many thousands of craters that populate the lunar surface. Its location within the Apollo basin indicates that it is younger than the basin itself, formed after the immense impact that created Apollo. Studying craters like Hawthorne, particularly their size-frequency distribution and morphology, provides insights into the impact history of the Moon and the inner solar system. Analysis of the materials ejected from craters can also reveal information about the composition of the lunar subsurface. While not a particularly prominent or geologically unique crater, Hawthorne contributes to the overall understanding of lunar geology and impact processes.