Chalonge is a
lunar impact crater
An impact crater is a circular depression in the surface of a solid astronomical object formed by the hypervelocity impact of a smaller object. In contrast to volcanic craters, which result from explosion or internal collapse, impact crater ...
that is located on the
far side of the
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet, with a diameter about one-quarter that of Earth (comparable to the width ...
. It lies to the southwest of the larger crater
Lewis, in the outer skirt of ejecta that surrounds the
Mare Orientale
Mare Orientale (Latin ''orientāle'', the "eastern sea") is a lunar mare. It is located on the western border of the near side and far side of the Moon, and is difficult to see from an Earthbound perspective. Images from spacecraft have reve ...
impact basin. To the southeast are the
Montes Cordillera, a ring of mountains that encircle the Mare Orientale formation.
This is a circular crater with a sharp-edged, outer rim that is not appreciably eroded. The inner walls slope directly down to a ring of slumped material that encircles the interior floor. Chalonge was previously designated Lewis R before being assigned a name by the
IAU
The International Astronomical Union (IAU; french: link=yes, Union astronomique internationale, UAI) is a nongovernmental organisation with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreach ...
.
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{{Craters on the Moon: C-F
Impact craters on the Moon