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Description
Easily seen from earth using binoculars, this is one of the most prominent and well known lunar features; the Copernicus crater.

The site was so named after Nicolaus Copernicus by a Italian Jesuit, Giovanni Riccioli. Copernicus' attempts at forwarding the "heliocentric system" (a sun-centered solar system) put him at odds with the Church. The naming of the feature was an attempt to metaphorically to throw Copernicus into the "Ocean of Storms" (Oceanus Procellarum) which is the area where the crater is located. I'd say the plan backfired though as nowadays the crater is often referred to as "The Monarch of the Moon".

It's in relatively pristine condition as a landmark due to it being young...
LOL at least as far as the moon's history is concerned.
Created approx. 800 million years ago, this event was a significant hit.
At 93 km across & 3.9 km deep, Copernicus is a very noticable "pock mark" on Luna's face.
That sloping ridge is 30 km wide and the edge rises up over 1km above the surface!

The "crater rays" spread out from the impact site over 800km across the surface of the surrounding mare (the dark basaltic plain).

Everytime I see the craters, I can't but say a silent note of thanks for our moon's placement.
She's intercepted quite a lot of those "celestial eviction notices" on our behalf.

Description
Easily seen from earth using binoculars, this is one of the most prominent and well known lunar features; the Copernicus crater.

The site was so named after Nicolaus Copernicus by a Italian Jesuit, Giovanni Riccioli. Copernicus' attempts at forwarding the "heliocentric system" (a sun-centered solar system) put him at odds with the Church. The naming of the feature was an attempt to metaphorically to throw Copernicus into the "Ocean of Storms" (Oceanus Procellarum) which is the area where the crater is located. I'd say the plan backfired though as nowadays the crater is often referred to as "The Monarch of the Moon".

It's in relatively pristine condition as a landmark due to it being young...
LOL at least as far as the moon's history is concerned.
Created approx. 800 million years ago, this event was a significant hit.
At 93 km across & 3.9 km deep, Copernicus is a very noticable "pock mark" on Luna's face.
That sloping ridge is 30 km wide and the edge rises up over 1km above the surface!

The "crater rays" spread out from the impact site over 800km across the surface of the surrounding mare (the dark basaltic plain).

Everytime I see the craters, I can't but say a silent note of thanks for our moon's placement.
She's intercepted quite a lot of those "celestial eviction notices" on our behalf.