Arago

Arago may refer to:

People

Places

Earth

Outer space

Arago (lunar crater)

Arago is a lunar impact crater located in the western part of the Mare Tranquillitatis. To the southwest lies the crater Manners, and beyond are Dionysius and the Ritter–Sabine crater pair. To the southeast is the large Lamont formation that has been submerged by the mare.

The rim of Arago has a bulge in the western wall. There is a central ridge that runs towards the northern wall. The surface of the mare nearby is marked by wrinkle ridges, most notably to the east and southeast. To the north is a large lunar dome designated Arago Alpha (α). A similar-sized lunar dome is located an equal distance to the west, designated Arago Beta (β).

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 Arago.

References

USC&GS Arago (1854)

USC&GS Arago was a survey ship that served in the United States Coast Survey from 1854 to 1878 and in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1878 to 1881. From October 1861 into 1863 Arago was at times attached to the Navy's South Atlantic Blockading Squadron off South Carolina to provide hydrographic support. She was the first ship of the Coast Survey or Coast and Geodetic Survey to bear the name.

Construction and early service

Arago was built by Fardy and Brothers at Baltimore, Maryland in 1854. She did survey work for the Coast Survey along the Atlantic coast of the United States.

Service History

Arago was surveying under Lieutenant Edwin J. De Haven, USN, Assistant in the Coast Survey, on the Texas coast when on May 15, 1855 anchors dragged off a lee shore as the ship was landing materials for signals and the ship was grounded. The ship's party was unable to get her off and a messenger was sent by foot to Galveston seeking help. The Coast Survey schooner Belle, working with Arago, brought anchors and gear so that on May 25 Arago was again afloat with little damage.