Princeton Craters

DEAR SIR:

The article entitled Moon Memorials in the February 9 issue of PAW omitted the name of a prominent Princeton graduate for whom a 30-mile-wide crater on the dark side of the moon was also named by the International Astronomical Union.

Daniel Moreau Barringer, Class of 1879, was the first scientist to prove, 60 years ago, the origin of an impact site on earth. This is the one-mile-wide meteorite crater located in northern Ari­zona now known in the scientific com­munity as Barringer Crater. He was also among the first to advance the theory that ‘the “seas” and craters on the moon were of similar origin.

This Princetonian has, consequently, the honor of being the only man for whom craters have been named both on the moon and on the earth.

J. PAUL BARRINGER ’24

Princeton, N.J.