crater chain


crater chain

(chain craters) Any linear association of craters. Some lunar crater chains are incipient sinuous rilles, i.e. lava tubes (in maria) that have suffered only partial collapse. Others are not confined to the maria and consist of overlapping secondary craters. Chains of volcanic craters (as in fissure eruptions) have not been unequivocally recognized but see wrinkle ridges.

crater chain

[′krād·ər ‚chān] (astronomy) A series of lunar craters located along a straight line.