Search important lunar landmarks, geological regions and observing targets by name, feature type and observing difficulty. Entries with full atlas coverage link to detailed geology, imagery and mission context.
Oceanus Procellarum
A very bright young crater on the Aristarchus Plateau, near volcanic features including Vallis Schröteri. One of the brightest lunar features, near the volcanic Aristarchus Plateau and Vallis Schröteri.
Useful illumination: waxing gibbous
Open detailed atlas entryNorthern near side
A large complex crater with a sharp rim and strong relief near Mare Frigoris. A prominent northern complex crater with a sharp rim and strong relief near first quarter.
Useful illumination: first quarter
Check observing contextSouth polar region
A permanently shadowed polar crater targeted by LCROSS, whose impact plume provided direct evidence of water and other volatiles.
Useful illumination: spacecraft reference
Check observing contextSoutheastern near side
A heavily eroded crater south of Cyrillus that completes a classic telescopic sequence of different crater ages. The eroded crater contrasts with younger Theophilus and illustrates relative crater age.
Useful illumination: waxing crescent
Check observing contextSouthern highlands
One of the largest conspicuous crater formations visible from Earth, containing a distinctive arc of smaller interior craters. Its large floor and curved chain of interior craters make it one of the southern highlands' best telescopic landmarks.
Useful illumination: waxing or waning gibbous
Open detailed atlas entryOceanus Procellarum boundary
A prominent complex crater with terraced walls, central peaks and a bright ray system. Terraces, central peaks and surrounding ejecta become dramatic as the terminator approaches.
Useful illumination: waxing gibbous
Open detailed atlas entrySoutheastern near side
An older crater beside Theophilus whose more degraded appearance provides a useful relative-age comparison. Forms a striking paired-crater region with Theophilus and Catharina.
Useful illumination: waxing crescent
Check observing contextNorthern near side
A prominent crater south of Aristoteles that makes a useful paired observing target.
Useful illumination: first quarter
Check observing contextNear-side highlands
An ejecta-rich highland region sampled by Apollo 14 to investigate material associated with the Imbrium impact event.
Useful illumination: first quarter
Check observing contextNorthern Mare Humorum
A large complex crater with a fractured floor and central mountain system on the edge of Mare Humorum. A fractured floor and central mountain system make it a rewarding high-magnification target.
Useful illumination: waxing gibbous
Check observing contextWestern limb
A dark-floored basin close to the western limb whose visibility changes substantially with libration. A dark western-limb basin that benefits from favourable libration and evening illumination.
Useful illumination: waning gibbous
Check observing contextHadley-Apennine
A sinuous channel interpreted as an ancient volcanic feature near the Apollo 15 landing site. A narrow volcanic channel beside the Apollo 15 landing region, best attempted when shadows enhance relief.
Useful illumination: first quarter
Open detailed atlas entryOceanus Procellarum
A young crater surrounded by a conspicuous bright ray system that becomes especially visible near full Moon. Its bright ray system becomes particularly conspicuous near full Moon.
Useful illumination: full moon
Check observing contextEastern limb
A prominent complex crater with terraced walls and central peaks near Mare Fecunditatis.
Useful illumination: waxing crescent
Check observing contextSouth polar region
A high south-polar region of interest for illumination and communications geometry near modern exploration targets.
Useful illumination: spacecraft reference
Check observing contextEastern near side
A distinct circular basaltic basin easily recognised near the eastern limb of the Moon. A distinct isolated mare near the eastern limb that becomes a useful orientation landmark early in the waxing cycle.
Useful illumination: waxing crescent
Open detailed atlas entryEastern near side
A basaltic plain east of Mare Nectaris, bordered by prominent craters including Langrenus.
Useful illumination: waxing crescent
Check observing contextNorthern near side
A long narrow mare region stretching across the northern near side rather than filling one simple circular basin.
Useful illumination: first quarter
Check observing contextSouthwestern near side
A circular mare basin bordered by Gassendi and tectonic features created by basin loading and deformation.
Useful illumination: waxing gibbous
Check observing contextNear side
A vast basalt-filled impact basin dominating the northwestern near side.
Open detailed atlas entrySoutheastern near side
A compact basaltic mare inside the Nectaris basin, useful for understanding basin rings and mare flooding.
Useful illumination: waxing crescent
Check observing contextSouthern near side
A basaltic plain containing Rupes Recta and several important impact structures.
Useful illumination: first quarter
Check observing contextNortheastern near side
A large basaltic mare whose edges contain important geological contacts and Apollo 17's Taurus-Littrow region nearby.
Useful illumination: waxing crescent to first quarter
Check observing contextNear side
A dark basaltic plain on the lunar near side best known as the region containing the Apollo 11 landing site.
Open detailed atlas entryOceanus Procellarum
A concentration of lunar volcanic domes and related features that preserves evidence of varied volcanic activity.
Useful illumination: low-angle illumination
Check observing contextSouth polar region
A broad high-elevation south-polar area studied as a potential exploration region because of its terrain and illumination characteristics.
Useful illumination: spacecraft reference
Check observing contextNorthern Mare Imbrium
A rugged mountain range crossed by Vallis Alpes and prominent under low-angle illumination.
Useful illumination: first quarter
Check observing contextMare Imbrium rim
A major mountain arc marking part of the Imbrium basin rim and including terrain explored by Apollo 15.
Useful illumination: first quarter
Check observing contextWestern near side
The Moon's largest named dark volcanic plain, spanning a huge portion of the western near side.
Open detailed atlas entrySoutheastern limb
A large crater with a distinctive floor fracture running from its central mountain toward the rim.
Useful illumination: waxing crescent
Check observing contextNorthern near side
A dark-floored complex crater on the northern edge of Mare Imbrium, framed by the lunar Alps. Its dark floor and mountain setting make it easy to locate near Mare Imbrium.
Useful illumination: first quarter
Check observing contextMare Serenitatis edge
A large floor-fractured crater containing rilles and complex interior structure.
Useful illumination: waxing crescent to first quarter
Check observing contextOceanus Procellarum
A high-albedo swirl associated with a local magnetic anomaly rather than obvious topographic relief.
Useful illumination: high illumination
Check observing contextMare Nubium
The Straight Wall is a long fault scarp that appears as a dark or bright line depending on the direction of illumination. The Straight Wall becomes conspicuous as a dark line under low morning sunlight and reverses character under evening light.
Useful illumination: first quarter
Check observing contextSouthwestern near side
A broad ancient walled plain with a dark central floor and lighter ends produced by volcanic resurfacing patterns.
Useful illumination: waxing gibbous
Check observing contextSouthwestern near side
An unusually elongated crater whose shape reflects overlapping impact structures and viewing geometry.
Useful illumination: waxing gibbous
Check observing contextSouth pole
A prominent crater centred very close to the lunar south pole. Its interior includes terrain that remains in permanent shadow while nearby high terrain can receive extended illumination.
Open detailed atlas entryMare Nectaris region
A small crater near the SLIM landing site, selected as a target for high-precision landing and geological investigation.
Useful illumination: waxing crescent
Check observing contextNorthwestern Mare Imbrium
The Bay of Rainbows is bordered by the Jura Mountains and can produce the Golden Handle illumination effect. The Jura Mountains can appear illuminated while the bay floor remains dark, creating the well-known Golden Handle effect.
Useful illumination: waxing gibbous
Check observing contextFar side / south
An immense ancient impact basin extending from the lunar south polar region across much of the far side.
Open detailed atlas entryMare Serenitatis margin
The Apollo 17 landing valley, selected for access to both ancient highland material and comparatively young volcanic deposits.
Useful illumination: waxing crescent to first quarter
Check observing contextSoutheastern near side
A prominent complex crater with terraced walls and central peaks, forming a striking trio with Cyrillus and Catharina. Terraced walls and central peaks become prominent under low-angle morning sunlight.
Useful illumination: waxing crescent
Check observing contextSouthern highlands
A young, conspicuous impact crater surrounded by an extensive bright ray system visible across much of the near side. The enormous bright ray system is one of the defining sights of the full Moon.
Useful illumination: full moon
Open detailed atlas entryMontes Alpes
A broad straight valley cutting through the lunar Alps, with a narrow central rille visible under excellent conditions in larger telescopes. A broad valley cutting through the Montes Alpes; larger telescopes may show the narrow central rille in excellent seeing.
Useful illumination: first quarter
Check observing contextAristarchus Plateau
The Moon's largest prominent sinuous rille, interpreted as a volcanic channel within the Aristarchus Plateau region.
Useful illumination: waxing gibbous
Check observing contextFar side, South Pole-Aitken Basin
A far-side crater within the South Pole-Aitken Basin and the landing region of Chang'e 4.
Open detailed atlas entrySouthwestern limb
A lava-filled crater whose interior rose unusually high, creating a plateau-like appearance inside the rim.
Useful illumination: waxing gibbous
Check observing context