Riccius (crater)


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.
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 completely 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.
RicciusLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
A35.9° S27.4° E24 km
B37.5° S27.8° E19 km
C36.2° S28.8° E24 km
D40.3° S28.9° E17 km
E39.9° S26.4° E22 km
G38.5° S24.4° E13 km
H35.4° S26.1° E20 km
J40.7° S26.0° E13 km
K39.1° S25.7° E6 km
L41.5° S26.8° E8 km
M37.8° S26.4° E14 km
N41.1° S27.6° E13 km
O36.2° S27.8° E9 km
P35.7° S28.1° E11 km
R41.4° S30.7° E7 km
S37.0° S26.5° E11 km
T36.3° S25.0° E7 km
W38.9° S25.2° E19 km
X38.8° S26.7° E11 km
Y35.8° S29.1° E10 km