thumb|right|Detail map of Imbrium's features. Sinus Iridum is the feature marked "A".

Sinus Iridum (Latin sinus īridum "Bay of Rainbows")

The selenographic coordinates of the bay's center are 45.01° N, 31.67° W, and the diameter is 249 km. It was the planned landing site of Chang'e 3, China's 2013 lunar exploration mission, which instead landed nearby in Mare Imbrium.

When 10 to 11 days after new moon the Sinus Iridum is still in shadow, the Montes Jura can already be visible at the lunar terminator. This geometry is also called Golden Handle.

Satellite craters

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Promontorium Heraclides.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! Heraclides

! Latitude

! Longitude

! Diameter

|-

| A

| 40.9° N

| 34.2° W

| 6 km

|-

| E

| 42.9° N

| 32.7° W

| 4 km

|-

| F

| 38.5° N

| 33.7° W

| 3 km

|}

The following satellite craters are associated with the Promontorium Laplace.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! Laplace

! Latitude

! Longitude

! Diameter

|-

| A

| 43.7° N

| 26.8° W

| 9 km

|-

| B

| 51.3° N

| 19.8° W

| 5 km

|-

| D

| 47.3° N

| 25.5° W

| 11 km

|-

| E

| 50.3° N

| 19.8° W

| 6 km

|-

| F

| 45.6° N

| 19.8° W

| 6 km

|-

| L

| 51.7° N

| 21.0° W

| 7 km

|-

| M

| 52.2° N

| 19.9° W

| 6 km

|}

See also

  • Volcanism on the Moon

References

  • , excellent earth-based image of Sinus Iridum and vicinity
  • On the Shore of the Bay of Rainbows - Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter page with images
  • High resolution video by Seán Doran of an overflight of Sinus Iridum, based on LRO data; this video also passes over Sinus Iridum about halfway through (see album for more)