Bright material points to a relatively recent impact

Feature Profile & Selenographic Data

Feature type

crater

Coordinates

42.59° N · 145.27° W

Diameter

139.52 km

IAU approval

1970/01/01 00:00:00

LAC quadrangle

LAC-34 · Fowler

Geological Chronicle

Fowler lies in the Moon’s northern hemisphere, on the far side. Esnault-Pelterie is north-northeast and Gadomski to the south. Von Zeipel overlies the eastern rim and intrudes into the interior.

Impact erosion has worn and rounded the outer rim into an irregular slope toward the interior depression. An infrared spectrum of pure crystalline plagioclase has been identified around the rim, where several small craters also lie along the rim and inner wall. Near the northeast edge, just north of Von Zeipel, an impact has relatively high albedo and a skirt of bright material. These are indicative of a relatively recent impact that has not had time to darken through space weathering.

Von Zeipel’s outer rampart and ejecta partly cover the eastern floor. An arc of small impacts marks the south, while the more level northern floor has only a few small craterlets. Before the IAU formally named the crater, it was called Crater 83. The formal name was adopted in 1970.

Chronology & Exploration

1. Undated Recent impact indicated

   The high-albedo impact and its bright skirt are described as indicative of a relatively recent event that has not had time to darken through space weathering.

2. Before 1970 Former designation

   Before formal naming, Fowler was called Crater 83.

3. 1970 Formal name adopted

   The IAU formally named Fowler in 1970.

Scientific Sources & References

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

Name Origin

Alfred; British astronomer (1868-1940); Ralph Howard; British mathematician; physicist (1889-1944).