The feature commonly identified as the Nöther crater (officially designated as Noether by the International Astronomical Union) is a lunar impact crater located on the far side of the Moon. It is situated in the northern hemisphere, positioned to the south of the larger walled plain Poczobutt and north-northeast of the crater Paraskevopoulos.
Naming and Etymology The crater is named in honor of Emmy Noether (1882–1935), a German mathematician noted for her foundational contributions to abstract algebra and theoretical physics (specifically Noether's theorem). The name was formally adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1970. While the namesake's surname is traditionally spelled with an umlaut (Nöther) in German, the official astronomical nomenclature utilizes the "oe" transliteration.
Physical Characteristics The crater has a diameter of approximately 64.6 kilometers. It is a heavily eroded feature, a characteristic typical of ancient impact sites on the lunar far side. The outer rim has been worn down by subsequent impacts, resulting in a rounded and somewhat irregular profile.
The interior floor of the crater is relatively flat compared to the surrounding rugged terrain, though it lacks a central peak. The floor is marked by several smaller impact craters of varying sizes. Due to its location on the lunar far side, the crater is not visible from Earth and has been mapped primarily through orbital photography and satellite altimetry.
Location and Coordinates Nöther is located at the following selenographic coordinates:
- Latitude: 66.35° N
- Longitude: 164.18° E
The crater lies in a region of the Moon characterized by a high density of impact features and is part of the northern highland territory.
