Epigenes is a lunar impact crater that is located in the north part of the Moon, and is sufficiently close to the northern limb to appear significantly foreshortened from the Earth. It lies just to the northwest of the remains of the walled plain W. Bond. Due north of Epigenes is Goldschmidt, and the ruined crater Birmingham lies just to the southwest.
On the lunar geologic timescale, Epigenes is a crater of Nectarian age. This formation is a picture in contrasts. The north and northwest parts of the rim are well-formed with little appearance of wear, while the remainder of the rim is notably eroded, particularly in the east-southeastern half. The western half of the interior floor is smooth and nearly featureless, while the remainder is somewhat hummocky and appears covered in ejecta from the east. The small crater Epigenes B intrudes into the northeastern rim.
This formation is named after Greek astronomer Epigenes of Byzantium (unknown–c. 200 B.C.). His name was included with the lunar nomenclature of Italian astronomer Giovanni Battista Riccioli in 1651. Its designation was formally adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1935.
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 Epigenes.
EpigenesLatitudeLongitudeDiameterA66.9° N0.3° W18 kmB68.3° N3.1° W11 kmD68.3° N0.3° E10 kmF67.1° N8.1° W5 kmG68.9° N7.0° W5 kmH69.4° N6.4° W7 kmP65.4° N5.4° W33 km
The crater Epigenes A includes a variety of impact melt features.
References Table 9-4.
Sources