A valley runs from Doppler B across the floor

Feature Profile & Selenographic Data

Feature type

crater

Coordinates

12.58° S · 159.84° W

Diameter

101.79 km

IAU approval

1970/01/01 00:00:00

LAC quadrangle

LAC-87 · Korolev

Geological Period

Early Imbrian

Geological Chronicle

Doppler lies on the southern edge of the walled plain Korolev, on the Moon’s far side. The South Pole-Aitken basin is just to the north, and Doppler has modified the basin rim. Galois lies to the east and Mohorovičić farther to the southwest.

The crater dates to the Early Imbrian period. Its rim has a somewhat polygonal form, with the satellite crater Doppler B joined to the inner northeast wall. The interior is rough and irregular, with some terracing on the worn outer walls and a complex of central hills north of the midpoint. A small crater-formed valley runs southeast across the floor from the rim of Doppler B.

Doppler is named for Austrian physicist, mathematician and astronomer Christian Doppler. The International Astronomical Union formally adopted the crater’s designation in 1970.

Chronology & Exploration

1. Early Imbrian Formation period

   Doppler dates to the Early Imbrian period of the lunar geologic timescale.

2. Undated Valley across the floor described

   A small crater-formed valley runs southeast across Doppler’s floor from the rim of Doppler B.

3. 1970 Designation adopted

   The International Astronomical Union formally adopted Doppler’s designation.

Scientific Sources & References

• International Astronomical Union Gazetteer — Registry record for the crater’s identity, coordinates, diameter and name origin.
• Wikipedia: Doppler (crater) — Local source for the crater’s setting, morphology, period and naming history.

Name Origin

Johann Christian; Austrian physicist, mathematician, astronomer (1803-1853).