Crater · Far side, South Pole-Aitken Basin

Von Kármán Crater

A far-side crater within the South Pole-Aitken Basin and the landing region of Chang'e 4.

Feature typeCrater

RegionFar side, South Pole-Aitken Basin

Approximate scale186 km

Location44.4°S, 176.2°E

LRO view across the floor of Von Kármán crater toward its western wall, with the Chang'e 4 landing location marked. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University. View the NASA source and download information.

Von Kármán CraterLarge impact crater inside South Pole-Aitken Basin · schematic locator aid

The schematic separates the landform concept from the spacecraft or telescope image above.

What you are looking at

Von Kármán is about 186 km wide and has a relatively smooth floor modified by later impacts and volcanic materials. Its far-side location means it is never directly visible from Earth.

How it formed and changed

Because the crater lies within the ancient South Pole-Aitken Basin, local rocks and regolith may record both basin-scale excavation and later geological processes.

What scientists learn here

Chang'e 4 and Yutu-2 provide in-situ imagery, spectroscopy and subsurface radar measurements from the crater floor. These local observations complement global orbital datasets but represent one part of the enormous basin.

How to find and observe Von Kármán Crater

Earth-based telescopes cannot see Von Kármán because it lies on the lunar far side. Spacecraft imagery is the only practical way to explore its landscape visually.

Nearby landmarks and exploration context

The Chang'e 4 landing site lies on the crater floor. The broader South Pole-Aitken Basin extends far beyond the crater boundaries.

Why this feature matters

It combines ancient basin geology with the first in-situ exploration of the lunar far side.

Check lunar phaseCompare dates and illumination before observing.Plan an observing sessionUse phase-based target suggestions and keep the terrain in context.