Cuvier (crater)

Cuvier
	Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Coordinates	50°18′S 9°54′E / 50.3°S 9.9°E
Diameter	77.30 km (48.03 mi)
Depth	3.8 km (2.4 mi)
Colongitude	351° at sunrise
Eponym	Georges Cuvier

Cuvier is a lunar impact crater on the southern part of the Moon's near side. It is attached to the east-southeast rim of the unusually shaped formation Heraclitus.^[2] To the northeast is the crater Clairaut.^[3]^[4]

The rim of this crater has been worn and eroded by subsequent impacts, leaving an outer wall that has been rounded and diminished in prominence. There is a small but notable crater pair lying across the northern rim, and two other smaller craters lie along the east (Cuvier C) and south rims. There are also several small craterlets lying across the rim to the north-northwest. Where the rim is shared with Heraclitus, there is a slight inward bulge to the wall, producing a short section where the rim appears slightly flatter.^[5]^{: 126–127}

The interior floor is level and nearly featureless, and much of the floor appears to have been resurfaced. This surface does not possess the low albedo characteristic of the lunar mare, and it matches the hue of the surrounding terrain. Instead, the floor is marked by faint traces of ray material from elsewhere.^[5]^{: 126–127}

This crater is named after French natural scientist and paleontologist Georges Cuvier (1769-1832),^[1] the creator of comparative anatomy.^[6] His name was included in the lunar nomenclature of German astronomer J. H. von Mädler during the 19th century.^[7] Its designation was formally adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1935.^[1]

Satellite craters

The trio of Heraclitus, Licetus, and Cuvier craters, with associated satellite features

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Cuvier.^[8]

Cuvier^[5]^: 296	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
A	52.4° S	12.0° E	18 km
B	51.7° S	13.8° E	17 km
C	49.9° S	11.7° E	9 km
D	51.3° S	7.8° E	17 km
E	52.3° S	12.9° E	19 km
F	52.2° S	11.2° E	16 km
G	50.8° S	7.5° E	8 km
H	48.6° S	8.5° E	10 km
J	49.3° S	8.8° E	6 km
K	52.2° S	10.0° E	8 km
L	48.9° S	9.8° E	13 km
M	53.3° S	10.9° E	6 km
N	53.4° S	12.1° E	4 km
O	51.6° S	12.1° E	10 km
P	50.0° S	12.7° E	11 km
Q	51.6° S	10.6° E	13 km
R	51.0° S	13.1° E	7 km

Cyrano E dates to the Eratosthenian period and has a meteoritic iron-rich impact melt.^[9]

References

1 2 3 "Cuvier". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
↑ Grego, Peter (2005). The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers' Observing Guides Series. London: Springer-Verlag. p. 212. ISBN 1-85233-748-6.
↑ Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.
↑ Chong, S. M.; et al. (2002). Photographic Atlas of the Moon. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81392-1.
1 2 3 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.
↑ Foing, B. H.; Josset, J.-L. (August 20, 2006). "Close-up on Cuvier crater ridge". ESA - SMART-1. Retrieved 2006-08-25.
↑ Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. pp. 120, 220. 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.
↑ Hu, Haojin; et al. (November 2025). "Lunar highland preserves meteoritic-iron-rich materials in the Earth─Moon system". The Astrophysical Journal. 993 (1). id. 148. Bibcode:2025ApJ...993..148H. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ae08b5.

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 "Cuvier". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2026-07-19.

[Grego_2005-2] Grego, Peter (2005). The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers' Observing Guides Series. London: Springer-Verlag. p. 212. ISBN 1-85233-748-6.

[Moore_2001-3] Moore, Patrick (2001). On the Moon. Sterling Publishing Co. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-304-35469-6.

[Chong_et_al_2002-4] Chong, S. M.; et al. (2002). Photographic Atlas of the Moon. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81392-1.

[Bussey_Spudis_2004-5] 1 2 3 Bussey, B.; Spudis, P. (2004). The Clementine Atlas of the Moon. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81528-4.

[Foing_Josset_2006-6] Foing, B. H.; Josset, J.-L. (August 20, 2006). "Close-up on Cuvier crater ridge". ESA - SMART-1. Retrieved 2006-08-25.

[Whitaker_1999-7] Whitaker, Ewen A. (1999). Mapping and Naming the Moon. Cambridge University Press. pp. 120, 220. 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.

[Hu_et_al_2025-9] Hu, Haojin; et al. (November 2025). "Lunar highland preserves meteoritic-iron-rich materials in the Earth─Moon system". The Astrophysical Journal. 993 (1). id. 148. Bibcode:2025ApJ...993..148H. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ae08b5.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

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