Geological Chronicle
Murchison lies on the northern edge of Sinus Medii, positioned directly astride the lunar zenith line, the starting longitude of the selenographic coordinate system. Measuring 57.83 kilometers across, the formation was named in honor of Scottish geologist Sir Roderick Impey Murchison. It shares a section of rim with Pallas, while the circular crater Chladni lies to the southeast on the mare.
The wall of Murchison is heavily worn and irregular, remaining most intact along the northeast part where the rim is indented. Along the section of rim shared with Pallas, only a ridge remains, broken by gaps to the north and south. From the eastern wall, a low ridge extends south to join the rim of Chladni.
The crater interior preserves little relief, having been flooded with lava. Because the southeastern wall has completely disappeared, the lava-flooded floor joins Sinus Medii through a wide gap, merging the crater interior directly into the mare.