Abel (crater)

Abel
	Abel crater and satellite craters
Coordinates	34°30′S 87°18′E / 34.5°S 87.3°E
Diameter	137.35 km (85.35 mi)
Depth	1.19 km (0.74 mi)
Colongitude	276° at sunrise
Eponym	Niels Henrik Abel

Oblique view facing south from Apollo 15

Abel is an ancient lunar impact crater that lies near the southeast limb of the Moon's near side. It is located to the south of the crater Barnard, at the northwest edge of the Mare Australe. This crater is the site of a strong magnetic anomaly in the lunar crust.^[3] Lunar swirls have been identified in the vicinity.^[4]

The rim of Abel is heavily eroded and distorted in shape, forming a somewhat polygonal figure. It is incised and overlaid by past impacts. The satellite crater Abel A overlies the southern rim, while Abel M and Abel L intrude into the western wall.

The eastern floor of Abel has been resurfaced by past lava flows, leaving a relatively smooth, flat surface with a low albedo. The remains of a small crater rim protrude near the northeast wall. The western floor is rougher in texture and matches the albedo of the surrounding surface.^[5]^: 116

The crater was named for the Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802-1829).^[6] Its designation was adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1964.^[1] The name was introduced into lunar nomenclature by German astronomer Julius Franz in 1906.^[7]

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 Abel.^[8]

Abel^[5]^: 291	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	36.6° S	86.0° E	19 km
B	36.7° S	82.8° E	41 km
C	36.0° S	81.0° E	31 km
D	37.7° S	87.7° E	30 km
E	37.8° S	86.5° E	13 km
J	35.5° S	79.0° E	11 km
K	35.0° S	77.2° E	9 km
L	34.4° S	82.6° E	67 km
M	32.2° S	83.6° E	81 km

References

1 2 "Abel". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
↑ "Abel". the-moon.us. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
↑ Kim, Hyung Rae; et al. (April 2025). "First crustal magnetic anomaly estimates from the magnetometer observations of the Korea pathfinder lunar orbiter". Scientific Reports. 15 (1). id. 13209. Bibcode:2025NatSR..1513209K. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-97770-1. PMC 12003868.
↑ Denevi, Brett W.; et al. (July 2016). "The distribution and extent of lunar swirls". Icarus. 273: 53–67. Bibcode:2016Icar..273...53D. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2016.01.017.
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. See p. 181.
↑ Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. p. 225. 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

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.

External links

Images of Abel crater at LPI moon atlas
Meyer, H. (May 22, 2014). "Punching through Abel C". Lunar Reconnaissance Camera.

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

[the_moon_us-2] "Abel". the-moon.us. Retrieved 2026-05-06.

[Kim_et_al_2025-3] Kim, Hyung Rae; et al. (April 2025). "First crustal magnetic anomaly estimates from the magnetometer observations of the Korea pathfinder lunar orbiter". Scientific Reports. 15 (1). id. 13209. Bibcode:2025NatSR..1513209K. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-97770-1. PMC 12003868.

[Denevi_et_al_2016-4] Denevi, Brett W.; et al. (July 2016). "The distribution and extent of lunar swirls". Icarus. 273: 53–67. Bibcode:2016Icar..273...53D. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2016.01.017.

[Bussey_Spudis_2004-5] 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_et_al_1971-6] 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. See p. 181.

[Whitaker_1999-7] Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. p. 225. ISBN 978-0-521-62248-6.

[Grego_2015-8] 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]

[7]

[8]

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