Brouwer on the Moon’s far side

Feature Profile & Selenographic Data

Feature type

crater

Coordinates

35.82° S · 124.75° W

Diameter

119.6 km

IAU approval

1970/01/01 00:00:00

LAC quadrangle

LAC-122 · Brouwer

Geological Period

Nectarian or possibly Pre-Nectarian

Geological Chronicle

Brouwer is an impact crater in the Moon’s southern hemisphere on the far side. Its registry coordinates are 35.8245° south, 124.7481° west, and its diameter is 119.6 kilometers. The younger, somewhat smaller Langmuir crater cuts into Brouwer’s western rim; farther east-southeast is Blackett, a larger walled plain.

The crater dates to the Nectarian period or possibly the Pre-Nectarian period. Later impacts have left the rim heavily worn. Parts to the east and north can still be traced in irregular terrain, while the southern rim is almost completely disintegrated.

The southeastern half of the floor is rough; the northwest is somewhat more level and less rough. Brouwer H lies just southeast of the midpoint. If Brouwer once had a central peak, it may have been overlaid by Brouwer H. The crater is named for American astronomer Dirk Brouwer and Dutch mathematician Luitzen Egbertus Jan Brouwer. The IAU officially adopted the designation in 1970.

Chronology & Exploration

1. Nectarian / possibly Pre-Nectarian Formation

   Brouwer’s formation dates to the Nectarian period or possibly the Pre-Nectarian period.

2. Later Rim worn by impacts

   Subsequent impacts heavily wore the rim; its southern section is almost completely disintegrated.

3. 1970 Name adopted

   The International Astronomical Union officially adopted the crater’s designation.

Scientific Sources & References

• Brouwer — IAU Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature — Registry identity, coordinates, diameter, and name origin.
• Brouwer (crater) — Wikipedia — Article text on Brouwer crater.

Name Origin

Dirk; American astronomer (1902-1966); Luitzen Egbertus Jan; Dutch mathematician (1881-1966).