page_title: Firmicus (crater)
section_title: Satellite craters
hierarchical_section_title: Firmicus (crater) / Satellite craters
caption_attribution_description: English: Firmicus lunar crater as seen from Earth with satellite craters labeled
context_page_description: Firmicus is a lunar impact crater that lies in the eastern part of the Moon's near side, so that from Earth it appears oval in shape due to foreshortening. It is, however, very nearly circular. The crater is located to the west of the Mare Undarum, and northeast of the similar-sized crater Apollonius. To the north of Firmicus are the craters van Albada and Auzout. Attached to its northwest rim is the Lacus Perseverantiae, a miniature lunar mare.
  The crater is named after 4th century Roman astrologer Julius Firmicus Maternus. The name was formally adopted by the IAU in 1935.
  The most notable aspect of Firmicus is the dark, flat floor. It has a similar albedo to the surface of Mare Crisium to the north, making it stand out somewhat from its surroundings. The floor has suffered no significant impacts since it was created, although there are undoubtedly many minor impacts across its surface. The outer rim of Firmicus has undergone some erosion, particularly along the northern rim where it is overlain by a pair of small craterlets.
context_section_description: By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Firmicus.
caption: Firmicus crater and its satellite craters taken from Earth in 2012 at the University of Hertfordshire's Bayfordbury Observatory with the telescopes Meade LX200 14" and Lumenera Skynyx 2-1
exif: {}