Geological Chronicle
Located in the western part of Oceanus Procellarum, Russell is the lava-flooded remains of an impact crater spanning 103.37 kilometers in diameter. Because the feature lies close to the western lunar limb, foreshortening makes it appear oblong in shape. The flooded floor is flat, sits level with the surrounding mare, and lacks a central peak.
On its south-southwestern side, the rim of Russell overlaps that of the larger lava-flooded crater Struve. The two rims form a figure-8 outline with a wide gap where they join. To the north lie the flooded remnants of several smaller craters, while the crater Briggs sits to the east and the flooded remains of Eddington lie to the southeast adjacent to Struve.
The rim of Russell is heavily worn and irregular, overlaid by multiple impact craters, the largest of which is Briggs A on the eastern rim. In the past, the crater was sometimes designated as Otto Struve A or assumed to be part of the larger Struve. It is named for American astronomer Henry Norris Russell and British artist and selenographer John Russell.