A Ten-Meter Hill Inside the Enigmatic Ina Structure

Feature Profile & Selenographic Data

Feature type

mons

Coordinates

18.66° N · 5.33° E

Diameter

0.65 km

IAU approval

1979/01/01 00:00:00

LAC quadrangle

LAC-41 · Montes Apenninus

Geological Chronicle

Mons Agnes is a hill inside Ina, a crater-like feature located in Lacus Felicitatis. With a maximal width of approximately 650 meters, it was cited in 2014 as the smallest of all named lunar mountains. Elevation estimates vary depending on the measurement source: photogrammetry from Apollo 15 imagery indicated a height of about 30 meters, whereas a map based on Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter photos gives about 10 meters.

The hill and the surrounding Ina structure were discovered on photos made by Apollo 15 from lunar orbit in 1971. NASA published a topophotomap in 1974 where the Greek feminine name Agnes first appeared, before the International Astronomical Union formally adopted Mons Agnes in 1979. It is one of several dozen similar hills inside Ina, where its origin remains enigmatic.

Chronology & Exploration

1. 1971 Orbital Discovery

   Apollo 15 orbital photographs record Mons Agnes and the surrounding Ina structure from lunar orbit.

2. 1974 Topophotomap Naming

   NASA publishes a topophotomap where the name Agnes first appears for the feature.

3. 1979 IAU Adoption

   The International Astronomical Union formally adopts the name Mons Agnes.

Scientific Sources & References

• USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature — Feature 3970
• Wikipedia (en) — Revision ID 1355787339

Name Origin

Greek female name.