Contains:  Solar system body or event
Moon:  Crater Erastothenes, Steve Siedentop

Moon: Crater Erastothenes

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Description

The lunar crater Erastothenes is named after the Greek scholar, librarian, poet and inventor who first estimated the Earth's circumference in 240 B.C. The crater is found at the end of the Montes Apenninus mountain range and is approximately 36 miles (58 km) wide and approximately 2 miles (3.5 km) deep.

In 1924, American astronomer William Pickering noticed dark patches that appeared to migrate across the crater surface and suggested that this was caused by massive groups of "lunar insects." This idea was given much consideration at the time due to Pickering's reputation. Pickering is best known for discovering Saturn's moon Phoebe in 1899 and constructing Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.

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Moon:  Crater Erastothenes, Steve Siedentop

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Lunar