Drygalski Crater
(79.3S, 275.1E); bounding (82S, 242-300E; 75S, 257-288E)
04.29.2011 - It is only fitting that Drygalski Crater (diameter 149 km), located near the lunar south pole, is named for German polar scientist and geophysicist Eric Von Drygalski. LOLA data are used to examine complex craters such as Drygalski to better constrain the shape of lunar craters. High resolution topographic data from LOLA are also used to refine crater depth-to-diameter relationships for the Moon [1]. Different types of craters (simple craters, complex craters, and multi-ringed basins) have diagnostic depth-to-diameter ratios. The ratios vary for each planetary body in the Solar System due to a number of factors, including crustal density and structure as well as other characteristics of the crust.
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References:
- Mazarico, E. et al (2010). Depth-Diameter Ratios of Small Craters from LOLA Multi-Beam Laser Altimeter Data. 41st LPSC, Abstract #2443.
