Regnault is a

lunar Lunar most commonly means "of or relating to the Moon". Lunar may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Lunar'' (series), a series of video games * "Lunar" (song), by David Guetta * "Lunar", a song by Priestess from the 2009 album ''Prior t ...

impact crater An impact crater is a depression (geology), depression in the surface of a solid astronomical body formed by the hypervelocity impact event, impact of a smaller object. In contrast to volcanic craters, which result from explosion or internal c ...

that is located close to the northwest limb of the

Moon The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It Orbit of the Moon, orbits around Earth at Lunar distance, an average distance of (; about 30 times Earth diameter, Earth's diameter). The Moon rotation, rotates, with a rotation period (lunar ...

. It lies across the western rim of the walled plain Volta, with the slightly smaller crater Stokes attached to the southern outer rim. Due to its location, Regnault is not favorably placed for viewing from the

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...

. It is seen at a very oblique angle, limiting the detail that can be viewed. The visibility of this crater is also affected by

libration In lunar astronomy, libration is the cyclic variation in the apparent position of the Moon that is perceived by observers on the Earth and caused by changes between the orbital and rotational planes of the moon. It causes an observer to see ...

of the Moon. As the eastern rim of Regnault lies across the rim of Volta, that eastern rim is somewhat less prominent than the western half. The rim has not been heavily eroded, although a small craterlet lies across the northern rim. Where it joins Stokes to the south, the rim has been straightened slightly, and ejecta lies across part of the interior floor. The inner walls of Regnault are relatively simple slopes that lead down to the level interior floor. This base is marked only by a few tiny craters and has no central peak.

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 Regnault.

References

* * * * * * * * * * * * {{refend Impact craters on the Moon fr:Réaumur (cratère)