Debes (crater)

Debes
	Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Coordinates	29°28′N 51°37′E / 29.47°N 51.62°E
Diameter	31.92 km (19.83 mi)
Colongitude	309° at sunrise
Eponym	Ernst Debes [de]

Debes is a damaged lunar impact crater that is located to the north of the Mare Crisium, in the eastern part of the Moon's near side. It lies just to the northwest of the crater Tralles and the prominent Cleomedes.^[2]^[3]

This crater is joined to the oval-shaped Debes A through a break in the southern rim. The latter crater is joined along its western rim by Debes B, so that the result is a triple-crater formation. The surviving rim of Debes is eroded and rounded, when compared to the sharper-rimmed Tralles, and the interior floor is relatively level and featureless.^[4]^: 44

This formation is named after German cartographer Ernst Debes [de].^[1] The introduction of his name into lunar nomenclature is attributed to Karl Müller.^[5] Its designation was formally adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1935.^[1]

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 Debes.^[6]

Debes^[4]^: 296	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	28.8° N	51.5° E	33 km
B	29.0° N	50.6° E	19 km

References

1 2 3 "Debes". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
↑ "LAC 44" (PDF). Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
↑ Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
1 2 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
↑ Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. pp. 160, 229. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.
↑ 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.

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 3 "Debes". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2026-08-02.

[LAC-44-2] "LAC 44" (PDF). Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 2026-08-02.

[Moore_2001-3] Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.

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

[Whitaker_1999-5] Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. pp. 160, 229. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.

[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.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

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

This page was redesigned at the edge.

Satellite craters

References

Sources