Collins (crater)

Collins
	Lunar Orbiter 5 image
Coordinates	1°18′N 23°42′E / 1.3°N 23.7°E
Diameter	2.58 km (1.60 mi)
Depth	0.6 km (0.37 mi)
Colongitude	336° at sunrise
Eponym	Michael Collins

Collins is a tiny lunar impact crater located on the southern part of the Mare Tranquillitatis. It is a simple, cup shape with a rim raised above the surrounding mare basalt.^[2] This crater is located about 25 kilometers to the north of the Apollo 11 landing site, Tranquility Base. Resolving it requires a telescope with an aperture of at least 150 mm (6 in).^[3]

Previously identified as Sabine D,^[4] this formation is named after American astronaut Michael Collins.^[1] Sabine itself is to the west of Collins. The Collins crater is the central member of the row of three craters named in honor of the Apollo 11 crew members.^[3]^[5] Their designations were formally adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1970.^[1] About 15 kilometers to the west-northwest is the landing site of the Surveyor 5 lunar probe.^[6]

References

1 2 3 "Collins". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
↑ Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
1 2 Grego, Peter (2005). The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers' Observing Guides Series. London: Springer-Verlag. p. 132. ISBN 1-85233-748-6.
↑ McElheny, Victor K. (August 15, 1970). "Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins on Moon again–as Names". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 16. Retrieved 2026-05-22 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "SMART-1 postcard of Apollo 11 landing site". ESA. July 20, 2006. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
↑ Chu, Alan; et al. (2012). The Cambridge Photographic Moon Atlas. Translated by Storm Dunlop. Cambridge University Press. pp. 12–13. ISBN 978-1-107-01973-7.

Sources

Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 978-0-913135-17-4.
Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 978-1-85233-193-1.

External links

Lunar Orbiter 2 Image 76, showing Collins crater
Lunar Orbiter 5 Image 74 h2, showing Collins crater

[GPN-1] 1 2 3 "Collins". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.

[Bussey_Spudis_2004-2] Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.

[Grego_2005-3] 1 2 Grego, Peter (2005). The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers' Observing Guides Series. London: Springer-Verlag. p. 132. ISBN 1-85233-748-6.

[McElheny_1970-4] McElheny, Victor K. (August 15, 1970). "Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins on Moon again–as Names". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 16. Retrieved 2026-05-22 – via Newspapers.com.

[ESA_2006-5] "SMART-1 postcard of Apollo 11 landing site". ESA. July 20, 2006. Retrieved 2026-07-09.

[Chu_et_al_2012-6] Chu, Alan; et al. (2012). The Cambridge Photographic Moon Atlas. Translated by Storm Dunlop. Cambridge University Press. pp. 12–13. ISBN 978-1-107-01973-7.

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