Flamsteed is a lunar impact crater officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The crater is named in honor of the English astronomer John Flamsteed (1646 – 1719), who served as the first Astronomer Royal and made significant contributions to stellar cataloguing.
The IAU Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature lists Flamsteed as an impact feature on the Moon’s surface, confirming its status as an established lunar crater. Detailed physical parameters such as precise diameter, depth, and exact selenographic coordinates are recorded in the Gazetteer, but these values are not reproduced here to avoid potential inaccuracies. The crater’s location places it within the lunar near side, where it can be observed from Earth under suitable lighting conditions.
As with all lunar craters named after historical astronomers, Flamsteed serves both as a landmark for lunar cartography and as a recognition of John Flamsteed’s contributions to the development of modern astronomy.
