The Crater Nicolai

Feature Profile & Selenographic Data

Feature type

crater

Coordinates

42.47° S · 25.87° E

Diameter

40.54 km

IAU approval

1935/01/01 00:00:00

LAC quadrangle

LAC-113 · Maurolycus

Geological Chronicle

Nicolai is a lunar impact crater that is located in the southern hemisphere of the Moon, in a region that is less disturbed by significant impacts than most of the highlands. The formation spans an official diameter of 40.54 kilometers.

The nearest craters of note are Spallanzani to the south, and the much larger Maurolycus and Barocius to the east. It is recorded in the IAU Gazetteer under quadrangle LAC-113.

Chronology & Exploration

1. IAU Name Adopted

   The International Astronomical Union officially approves the crater name.

Scientific Sources & References

• IAU Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature — Friedrich Bernhard Gottfried; German astronomer (1793-1846).
• Wikipedia (en) — Nicolai (crater)

Name Origin

Friedrich Bernhard Gottfried; German astronomer (1793-1846).