Aratus (crater)

Aratus is a small lunar impact crater located on the highland to the south and east of the rugged Montes Apenninus range.

North-northeast of Aratus is the landing site of the Apollo 15 mission, just beyond Mons Hadley Delta.

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Aratus.

Trending to the north from Aratus CA is a wrinkle ridge in the surface that has been designated Dorsum Owen.

About the same distance to the southwest is the Montes Haemus mountain range at the edge of the lunar mare.

Oblique close-up from Apollo 15 . NASA photo.
View of Aratus CA and surroundings from Apollo 15. The rift near the midpoint is at selenographic coordinates 24.5° N, 11.2° E, and occupies a diameter of about 9 km (5.6 mi)