Anderson

Feature Profile & Selenographic Data

Feature type

crater

Coordinates

15.4993° N, 170.7942° E

Diameter

105.33 km

IAU approval

1970/01/01 00:00:00

LAC quadrangle

LAC-68 · Sharonov

Geological Chronicle

Anderson is a lunar impact crater on the far side of the Moon, situated within the Freundlich-Sharonov Basin to the northwest of Sharonov. The satellite crater Sharanov X is attached to the southeast rim of Anderson. The peculiar formation Buys-Ballot lies to the northeast, and the larger crater Spencer Jones lies to the east-southeast.

The outer rim of Anderson is heavily worn and eroded. Small craters overlie the southeastern and southwestern rims. The interior is relatively flat, with multiple tiny craters covering parts of the floor, the most prominent being Anderson L near the southeastern rim.

The infrared spectrum of pure crystalline plagioclase has been identified on the northeast and southeast rim, along with ejecta to the northeast. Nearby satellite craters Anderson E and F have fractured floors, and both date to the Nectarian period of the lunar geologic timescale.

Chronology & Exploration

1. Nectarian Satellite Crater Age

   Anderson E and F date to the Nectarian period of the lunar geologic timescale.

2. 1970 Name Adoption

   Its designation was formally adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1970.

3. Modern Plagioclase Identification

   The infrared spectrum of pure crystalline plagioclase has been identified on the northeast and southeast rim, along with ejecta to the northeast.

Scientific Sources & References

• IAU Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature — Feature coordinates, diameter, feature type, naming origin, and quadrangle.
• Wikipedia: Anderson (crater) — Text describing location, basin setting, rim erosion, floor features, plagioclase detections, IAU naming, and satellite crater characteristics.

Name Origin

John August; American astronomer (1876-1959).