Zeeman is a lunar impact crater located on the far side of the Moon near its south pole.[2] It is not directly visible from the Earth. To the northwest of Zeeman lies the crater Numerov. Southeast of the rim is the crater Ashbrook.
 Clementine mosaic | |
| Coordinates | 75°12′S 134°48′W / 75.2°S 134.8°W |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 184 km |
| Depth | Unknown |
| Colongitude | 135° at sunrise |
| Formation | Nectarian[1] |
| Eponym | Pieter Zeeman |
On the lunar geologic timescale, this formation dates to the Nectarian period.[1] The outer rim of Zeeman is eroded somewhat irregularly, with considerable variation in width of the inner slopes. The crater Zeeman Y lies across the northern wall, reaching almost to the relatively flat interior floor. In the western rim is a small crater that joins a gash that runs down to the floor. The surface of the interior is pock-marked by many tiny craterlets, and worn crater features. There is a low central rise, offset to the southeast of the interior midpoint. The infrared spectrum of pure crystalline plagioclase has been identified on this peak.[3]
An unusual, (officially) unnamed massif is present in the northwest section of the rim, which rises about 4.0 km above adjacent parts of the rim and about 7.57 km above the crater floor.[4] The formation of the massif does not appear to be explainable simply on the basis of the impact that created the crater.[5]
Satellite craters
editBy convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Zeeman.
| Zeeman | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | 74.2° S | 123.9° W | 29 km |
| G | 74.3° S | 107.4° W | 45 km |
| U | 73.8° S | 148.2° W | 26 km |
| X | 71.5° S | 138.1° W | 26 km |
| Y | 72.8° S | 137.6° W | 33 km |
Conspiracy theories
editThere have been claims that a rectangular shape located on the Zeeman crater is an alien structure and that it was evidence of "foul play at the US Government".[6] The Clementine Conspiracy or Project Golden Dragon is a conspiracy theory that started as a result of the Clementine mission. It posed that located within the Zeeman crater there is an alien machine or a weapon developed by the US government.[7]
References
edit- 1 2 Moriarty, D. P.; Pieters, C. M. (March 2018). "The Character of South Pole-Aitken Basin: Patterns of Surface and Subsurface Composition". Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 123 (3): 729–747. Bibcode:2018JGRE..123..729M. doi:10.1002/2017JE005364.
- ↑ Moore, Patrick (2000). The Data Book of Astronomy. CRC Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-4200-3344-1.
- ↑ Donaldson Hanna, K. L.; et al. (July 2014). "Global assessment of pure crystalline plagioclase across the Moon and implications for the evolution of the primary crust". Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 119 (7): 1516–1545. Bibcode:2014JGRE..119.1516D. doi:10.1002/2013JE004476.
- ↑ Robinson, M. (November 20, 2017). "Mountains of the Moon: Zeeman Mons". LROC.sese.asu. Arizona State University. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ↑ Ruefer, A. C.; James, P. B. (March 2020). "Zeeman Crater's Anomalous Massif" (PDF). 51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. p. 2673. Bibcode:2020LPI....51.2673R.
- ↑ Kettley, Sebastian (March 10, 2019). "Alien base on the Moon? Google map is '100 percent PROOF of ET base'". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
- ↑ Fougerousse, Peter (June 8, 2017). "The Clementine Conspiracy: Unveiling the Biggest Secret of Mankind". Gratis Global. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
Sources
edit- Andersson, L. E.; Whitaker, E. A. (1982). NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature. NASA RP-1097.
- Blue, Jennifer (July 25, 2007). "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature". USGS. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
- Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
- Cocks, Elijah E.; Cocks, Josiah C. (1995). Who's Who on the Moon: A Biographical Dictionary of Lunar Nomenclature. Tudor Publishers. ISBN 978-0-936389-27-1.
- McDowell, Jonathan (July 15, 2007). "Lunar Nomenclature". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
- 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. S2CID 122125855.
- Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
- Price, Fred W. (1988). The Moon Observer's Handbook. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-33500-3.
- Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 978-0-913135-17-4.
- Webb, Rev. T. W. (1962). Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes (6th revised ed.). Dover. ISBN 978-0-486-20917-3.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
- Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 978-1-85233-193-1.