Riccius is a lunar impact crater that is located in the rugged, southeastern part of the Moon's near side. It was named after Italian astronomers Augustinus Riccius and Matteo Ricci. It lies within one crater diameter southeast of the crater Rabbi Levi. To the east-northeast is Stiborius and due south is Nicolai.
On the lunar geologic timescale, this crater dates to the Pre-Nectarian epoch. This formation has been so heavily bombarded by subsequent impacts that it is nearly unrecognizable as a crater. Only the western and southwestern parts of the rim remains intact, the remainder having been obliterated by small craters. These craters also occupy parts of the northern and southern floor. Only a section in the northeast and near the intact western rim remain unmarked. This is perhaps the most defaced crater formation on the Moon that possesses an eponym.
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 Riccius.
Riccius LatitudeLongitudeDiameterA35.9° S27.4° E24 kmB37.5° S27.8° E19 kmC36.2° S28.8° E24 kmD40.3° S28.9° E17 kmE39.9° S26.4° E22 kmG38.5° S24.4° E13 kmH35.4° S26.1° E20 kmJ40.7° S26.0° E13 kmK39.1° S25.7° E6 kmL41.5° S26.8° E8 kmM37.8° S26.4° E14 kmN41.1° S27.6° E13 kmO36.2° S27.8° E9 kmP35.7° S28.1° E11 kmR41.4° S30.7° E7 kmS37.0° S26.5° E11 kmT36.3° S25.0° E7 kmW38.9° S25.2° E19 kmX38.8° S26.7° E11 kmY35.8° S29.1° E10 km
References Table 8.3.
Sources