Geological Chronicle
Abel is an ancient lunar impact crater near the southeast limb of the Moon's near side, located south of the crater Barnard at the northwest edge of the Mare Australe. The crater is the site of a strong magnetic anomaly in the lunar crust, and lunar swirls have been identified in the vicinity.
The rim of Abel is heavily eroded and distorted in shape, forming a somewhat polygonal figure. Past impacts have incised and overlaid the rim: the satellite crater Abel A overlies the southern rim, while Abel M and Abel L intrude into the western wall.
The eastern floor has been resurfaced by past lava flows, leaving a relatively smooth, flat surface with a low albedo where the remains of a small crater rim protrude near the northeast wall. The western floor is rougher in texture and matches the albedo of the surrounding surface.