Bowen-Apollo Crater and Lunar Regolith Breccia Sample 78120

Feature Profile & Selenographic Data

Feature type

landing

Coordinates

20.27° N · 30.87° E

Diameter

0.3 km

IAU approval

1973/01/01 00:00:00

LAC quadrangle

LAC-43 · Macrobius

Geological Chronicle

Bowen-Apollo is a 0.3-kilometer crater in Taurus-Littrow valley, located at the foot of the Sculptured Hills. In 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt landed to the southwest of the feature. During the mission, they referred to it as SWP crater, while a more subdued crater to the southeast of SWP was called Bowen. The IAU formally renamed SWP as Bowen-Apollo, located just east of Geology Station 8.

The crater was named by the astronauts after geologist Norman L. Bowen, originator of Bowen's reaction series. Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt drove around the south rim of Bowen-Apollo during surface operations. Soil sample 78120, a regolith breccia, was collected at geology station designated LRV 11. To the southwest of Bowen-Apollo are Cochise, Van Serg, and Shakespeare, while Henry lies to the west.

Chronology & Exploration

1. 1972 Apollo 17 Exploration and Sampling

   Astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt drive around the south rim of Bowen-Apollo and collect regolith breccia sample 78120 at LRV 11.

Scientific Sources & References

• IAU Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature — Official designation for feature 848.
• Wikipedia: Bowen-Apollo — Source text describing Apollo 17 exploration and IAU nomenclature.

Name Origin

Astronaut-named feature, Apollo 17 site.