A crater within the Fowler-Charlier basin

Feature Profile & Selenographic Data

Feature type

crater

Coordinates

36.22° N · 131.69° W

Diameter

109.88 km

IAU approval

1970/01/01 00:00:00

LAC quadrangle

LAC-35 · Landau

Geological Period

Pre-Nectarian

Geological Chronicle

The Fowler-Charlier basin measures 374 kilometers across, and Charlier lies within it on the Moon’s far side. The larger crater Kovalevskaya is south-southeast; Perrine lies northeast.

Charlier dates to the Pre-Nectarian period. Erosion has damaged its outer rim: the northeastern section is most intact, while the southern and western rims are heavily worn and partly covered by smaller craters. Several impacts have merged over the western rim. The floor carries many impacts, with smaller craters scattered across it, some overlapping earlier ones. Two areas remain relatively undisturbed by notable impacts, one near the north of the floor and another in the southwest.

The crater is named for Swedish astronomer Carl Charlier (1862–1934). The International Astronomical Union formally adopted its designation in 1970.

Chronology & Exploration

1. Pre-Nectarian Formation period

   Charlier dates to the Pre-Nectarian period of the lunar geologic timescale.

2. Undated Floor patches remain relatively undisturbed

   Two interior areas are described as relatively undisturbed by notable impacts, one near the northern floor and another in the southwestern region.

3. 1970 Designation adopted

   The International Astronomical Union formally adopted Charlier’s designation.

Scientific Sources & References

• International Astronomical Union Gazetteer — Registry record for the crater’s identity, coordinates, diameter and name origin.
• Wikipedia: Charlier (lunar crater) — Local source for the basin setting, crater morphology, geology and floor features.

Name Origin

Carl Wilhelm Ludwig; Swedish astronomer (1862-1934).