 Abbe crater, with Hess M to its upper left and Abbe H to its lower right[1] | |
| Coordinates | 57°18′S 175°12′E / 57.3°S 175.2°E / -57.3; 175.2 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 63.98[1] km |
| Depth | 6,953[2] m |
| Colongitude | 187° at sunrise |
| Formation | Pre-Nectarian[3] |
| Eponym | Ernst Abbe |
Abbe is a lunar impact crater that lies in the southern hemisphere on the far side of the Moon. It is located just to the south of the crater Hess, and lies to the east of the large walled basin Poincaré.
On the lunar geologic timescale, this formation dates to the Pre-Nectarian period.[3] The outer wall of Abbe is somewhat eroded, with small craters lying across the northwest and southwest rim crests. The interior floor is relatively smooth, with a few tiny craterlets marking the surface.[4]: 132 The maximum depth of the crater floor is 6,953 m.[2]
This crater is named after the German physicist Ernst Abbe (1840–1905).[5] Its designation was officially adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1970.[1]
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 Abbe.
| Abbe[4]: 291 | Latitude | Longitude | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| H | 58.2° S | 177.9° E | 25 km |
| K | 59.6° S | 177.3° E | 28 km |
| M | 61.6° S | 175.3° E | 29 km |
Gallery
Oblique view of Abbe, facing west. Lunar Orbiter 5 image.
Another Lunar Orbiter 5 view of Abbe, facing west.
Map showing the satellite craters of Abbe
References
- "Abbe". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
- Robbins, John W. (2025). The Detailed Topographic Lunar Atlas - Far Side (PDF). p. 1106. ISBN 978-3-949370-17-5. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
- Byrne, Charles J. (2008). The Far Side of the Moon. Springer. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-4899-8806-5.
- Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
- Menzel, D. H.; et al. (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by the Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews. 12 (2): 136–186. Bibcode:1971SSRv...12..136M. doi:10.1007/BF00171763. S2CID 122125855.
External links
Media related to Abbe (crater) at Wikimedia Commons- Images of Abbe crater at LPI moon atlas
