Explore the Moon - Autolycus

Background

The crater Autolycus can be found on the eastern edge of Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) just south of the larger crater Aristillus.  It is named after the Greek astronomer Autolycus of Pitane who published books on mathematics and geometry.  His book, On the Moving Sphere may be the earliest completely preserved mathematical book from Greek history.  In his other great work, On Risings and Settings, he remarks "any star which rises and sets always rises and sets at the same point in the horizon".  As a contempoary of Aristotle, Autolycus was a supporter of homocentric spheres, a mathematical model to upload the geocentric conception of the solar system.

Autolycus (Image Credit: NASA Lunar Orbiter 4)

Autolycus is a moderate sized crater with a diameter of 40km and a depth of 3,440m.  The floor is not flooded and the walls show little sign of erosion.  This would make the crater relatively young.

Observation

My abbreviated observation record can be found below:

Date	2020-05-29
Time	23:11
Sky	Clear
Telescope	8" Reflector (1200mm F.L.)
Eyepiece	10mm (2x Barlow)
Magnification	240x

Comments

I noted that this crater was found in the eastern region of Mare Imbrium between Aristillus and the Apennine Mountains (Montes Apennines).  To its immediate west was the large crater Archimedes.  There were small mountains just south of Autolycus that lead to the larger Apennines.  There was a ridge on the westernmost interior of the crater that indicates a strong terracing slope back to the lunar surface.  Luna 2 landed just to the west of Autolycus just north of some hilly terrain.

Autolycus Sketch

Location

To help you locate this object a map has been provided from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's Observer's Handbook.  It is object #31, highlighted below.

Autolycus (Crater)

Another great view is from the Apollo 15 mission.  This is looking northward from Autolycus to Aristillus.  In the upper right you can see the low formation of Cassini.  The Mountain in the top left centre is Mons Piton and the Alps Mountains are further back.

Autolycus (Image Credit: NASA Apollo 15)