Craterra

Lunar Far Side

A Far-Side Crater Shielded From Earth's Radio Noise

Spanning 103 kilometers across the lunar far side, Saha features degraded terraces and a radio-quiet basin proposed for the Lunar Crater Radio Telescope.

Feature Profile & Selenographic Data

Feature type
crater
Coordinates
1.69° S · 103.04° E
Diameter
103.34 km
IAU approval
1970/01/01 00:00:00
LAC quadrangle
LAC-82 · Pasteur

Geological Chronicle

Saha is an impact crater spanning 103.34 kilometers across the lunar far side, positioned behind the eastern limb as seen from Earth. It lies less than one crater diameter due east of the similar-sized Wyld and north-northwest of Pasteur, a large walled plain, carrying the name of Indian astrophysicist Meghnad Saha.

Subsequent impacts have worn and damaged the crater, including the satellite formation Saha W across the northwest rim and inner wall. The inner slopes still display worn terrace-like shelf structures that have lost definition, while the interior floor hosts the small bowl-shaped crater Saha M in the southwest, an arcing ridge to its north, and various tiny craterlets.

Because the location is shielded from radio emissions from Earth and geosynchronous orbit, Saha is a proposed site of the Lunar Crater Radio Telescope along with Daedalus crater.

Scientific Sources & References

Name Origin

Meghnad; Indian astrophysicist (1893-1956).

Interactive Lunar Surface

Explore Saha in 3D

Inspect lunar elevation data and the official selenographic position.