Geological Chronicle
King is a prominent impact formation positioned on the lunar far side, shielded from direct view from Earth. Its bright ray system places it in the Copernican System on the lunar geologic timescale, reflecting a relatively young surface age with little erosion along its outer rim. The crater measures 76.21 kilometers in diameter and abuts the slightly larger crater Ibn Firnas along its northeastern rim.
The interior of King displays asymmetric terracing along its eastern inner wall, enclosing an uneven floor marked by ridges. An elongated, Y-shaped central rise extends into a ridge connected to the southern rim. Spectroscopic measurements indicate that this central peak is composed of olivine-bearing gabbro excavated from a depth of 7.6 to 11.9 kilometers, while infrared data detects pure crystalline plagioclase across the central floor.
Surrounding terrain preserves distinct evidence of impact dynamics, including satellite feature King Y to the north, which holds a pooled reservoir of impact melt. In 1970, the International Astronomical Union named the crater for American physicist Arthur Scott King and American astronomer Edward Skinner King, replacing its prior designation as Crater 211.