// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy Chauvenet crater go to therapy? It had a hole lot of issues.

Chauvenet
	Apollo 17 Mapping Camera image
Coordinates	11°38′S 137°12′E / 11.64°S 137.20°E
Diameter	77.67 km (48.26 mi)
Depth	Unknown
Colongitude	224° at sunrise
Formation	Nectarian
Eponym	William Chauvenet

Chauvenet is a lunar impact crater that is located to the northeast of the prominent crater Tsiolkovskiy on the far side of the Moon. Less than one crater diameter to the northwest of Chauvenet is the crater Ten Bruggencate.^[2]

This formation is dated to the Nectarian period of the lunar geologic timescale.^[2] The rim is roughly circular, with the satellite crater Chauvenet C overlying the northeastern side and intruding into the interior. A ridge runs from the western side of this intruding feature to the midpoint of the interior of Chauvenet, where it forms a central peak. The remainder of the floor is marked only by a number of tiny craters. There is a shelf of slumped material forming a terrace along the southeast inner wall. The remainder of the inner wall is somewhat irregular in form.^[3]^: 84

The crater was named after American astronomer and mathematician William Chauvenet (1820-1870).^[4] Its designation was formally adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1970.^[1] The crater was identified as Crater 290 prior to naming.^[5]

Satellite craters

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Chauvenet.^[6]

Chauvenet^[3]^: 295	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
C	10.4° S	138.0° E	48 km
D	10.6° S	139.7° E	14 km
E	11.4° S	140.7° E	27 km
G	12.7° S	141.0° E	26 km
J	13.9° S	139.3° E	77 km
L	13.3° S	137.5° E	10 km
P	14.5° S	135.8° E	12 km
Q	13.3° S	135.4° E	42 km
S	12.3° S	134.4° E	38 km
U	11.0° S	135.2° E	11 km

The name Cornielle was proposed for Chauvenet S crater,^[7] but it was not approved by the IAU.

Oblique view of Chauvenet Q from Apollo 17

References

1 2 "Chauvenet". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
1 2 3 Byrne, Charles J. (2008). The Far Side of the Moon. Springer. pp. 25–28. ISBN 978-1-4899-8806-5.
1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
↑ Menzel, D. H.; et al. (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by the Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews. 12 (2): 136–186. Bibcode:1971SSRv...12..136M. doi:10.1007/BF00171763. S2CID 122125855.
↑ "Lunar Farside Chart (LFC-1A)" (2nd ed.). Lunar & Planetary Institute. October 1967. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
↑ Grego, P. (2015). "Satellite Crater". In Hargitai, H.; Kereszturi, Á. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. New York, NY: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-3134-3_328.
↑ "LTO-84D4 Volkov". Lunar Topographic Orthophotomap (LTO) Series. Lunar & Planetary Institute. Retrieved 2026-05-14.

Sources

Price, Fred W. (1988). The Moon Observer's Handbook. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-33500-3.
Rükl, Antonín (1990). Atlas of the Moon. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 978-0-913135-17-4.
Wlasuk, Peter T. (2000). Observing the Moon. Springer. ISBN 978-1-85233-193-1.

[GPN-1] 1 2 "Chauvenet". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.

[Byrne_2008-2] 1 2 3 Byrne, Charles J. (2008). The Far Side of the Moon. Springer. pp. 25–28. ISBN 978-1-4899-8806-5.

[Bussey_Spudis_2004-3] 1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.

[Menzel_et_al_1971-4] Menzel, D. H.; et al. (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by the Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews. 12 (2): 136–186. Bibcode:1971SSRv...12..136M. doi:10.1007/BF00171763. S2CID 122125855.

[LFC1A-5] "Lunar Farside Chart (LFC-1A)" (2nd ed.). Lunar & Planetary Institute. October 1967. Retrieved 2026-05-14.

[Grego_2015-6] Grego, P. (2015). "Satellite Crater". In Hargitai, H.; Kereszturi, Á. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. New York, NY: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-3134-3_328.

[Volkov-7] "LTO-84D4 Volkov". Lunar Topographic Orthophotomap (LTO) Series. Lunar & Planetary Institute. Retrieved 2026-05-14.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

v t e Moon
Outline
Physical properties	Internal structure Topography Atmosphere Gravity field Hill sphere Magnetic field Sodium tail Moonlight Earthlight
Orbit	Orbital elements Distance Perigee and apogee Libration Nodes Nodal period Precession Syzygy New moon Full moon Eclipses Lunar eclipse Total penumbral lunar eclipse Tetrad Solar eclipse Solar eclipses on the Moon Eclipse cycle Supermoon Tide Tidal force Tidal locking Tidal acceleration Tidal range Kordylewski clouds Lunar station
Surface and features	Selenography Terminator Limb Hemispheres Near side Far side Poles North pole South pole Face Maria List Mountains Peak of eternal light Valleys Volcanic features Domes Calderas Lava tubes Craters List A–B C–F G–K L–N O–Q R–S T–Z Ray systems Permanently shadowed craters South Pole–Aitken basin Regolith swirls Rilles Wrinkle ridges Rocks Lunar basalt 70017 Changesite-(Y) Water Space weathering Micrometeorite Sputtering Quakes Transient lunar phenomenon Selenographic coordinate system
Science	Observation Libration Lunar theory Origin Giant-impact hypothesis Theia Lunar magma ocean Geology Timescale Late Heavy Bombardment Lunar meteorites KREEP Volcanism Experiments Lunar laser ranging ALSEP Lunar sample displays Apollo 11 Apollo 17 Lunar seismology
Exploration	Missions Apollo program Artemis program Explorers Probes Landing Colonization Moonbase Tourism Lunar habitation Lunar resources
Time-telling and navigation	Lunar calendar Lunisolar calendar Month Lunar month Nodal period Fortnight Sennight Lunar station Lunar distance
Phases and names	New Full Names Crescent Super and micro Blood Blue Dark Wet Tetrad
Daily phenomena	Moonrise Meridian passage Moonset
Related	Lunar deities Lunar effect Earth phase Moon illusion Pareidolia Man in the Moon Moon rabbit Craters named after people Artificial objects on the Moon Memorials on the Moon Moon in science fiction list Apollo era futuristic exploration Hollow Moon Moon landing conspiracy theories Moon Treaty "Moon is made of green cheese" Natural satellite Double planet Lilith (hypothetical second moon) Splitting of the Moon
Category