Definition
A small (arbitrary size <2 km) crater.
Synonyms
Prominent Examples
Craterlets on the floor of the crater Plato (Fig. 1) are among the favorite targets for amateur astronomers testing the resolving power of their telescopes (Knisely 2005).
Craterlets in Plato, Moon (D = 101 km). The largest craterlets are 2–2.4 km in diameter, smaller ones are <1 km wide. LROC WAC mosaic (NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University)
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References
Birt WR (1867) Report of the Lunar Committee for Mapping the Surface of the Moon. In: Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. John Murray, London, pp 215–281
Dence MR (1964) A comparative structural and petrographic study of probable Canadian meteorite craters. Meteoritics 2(3):249
Elger TG (1895) The Moon – a full description and map of its principal physical features. George Philip & Son, London
Knisely D (2005) Guide to Plato craterlets. In Cloudy Nights Telescope Reviews/Forum Archives/Observing/Lunar Observing. http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbarchive/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/520616
Mosher J (2009a) Crater resolution. Lunar terminator visualization tool wiki. http://ltvt.wikispaces.com/Crater+Resolution.
Mosher J (2009b) Plato craterlet resolution examples. Lunar terminator visualization tool wiki. http://ltvt.wikispaces.com/Plato+Craterlet+Resolution+Examples
Mosher J (2010) Plato craterlets. In: Wood C (ed) The-Moon wiki. http://the-moon.wikispaces.com/Plato+Craterlets
Neison E (1876) The Moon and the condition and configuration of its surface. Longmans, Green and Co, London
USGS (2012) Gazetteer of planetary nomenclature: International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=MOON&featureType=Crater,%20craters
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Grego, P. (2015). Craterlet. In: Hargitai, H., Kereszturi, Á. (eds) Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3134-3_87
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