Balandin (crater)

Balandin is a lunar impact crater that is located on the far side of the Moon. It lies within the Mare Moscoviense, a large, lava-filled impact basin. Balandin is situated in the southwestern part of the mare, to the southeast of the crater Komarov and northeast of the crater Titov.

The crater is named after Alexei Balandin, a Soviet structural chemist.

Balandin is a relatively young crater, characterized by a well-defined rim and a relatively flat interior floor. The rim is circular and only slightly eroded, suggesting it has not been significantly altered by subsequent impacts. The interior of Balandin lacks a central peak, which is common in larger lunar craters. There are some minor craters located along the inner walls of Balandin, possibly formed by material ejected during its formation. The floor of the crater is darker than the surrounding mare, indicating the presence of basaltic material.

Its coordinates are 20.5° N latitude and 146.7° E longitude. Its diameter is approximately 32 kilometers.