Bliss (crater)

Bliss is a small lunar impact crater located in the northeastern part of the Moon, on the near side. It lies within the Lacus Somniorum, a dark, basaltic plain. Its selenographic coordinates are 35.2° N latitude and 42.5° E longitude. The crater has a diameter of approximately 20 kilometers.

Bliss is a relatively simple, bowl-shaped crater with a well-defined rim. The interior slopes down to a small, rounded floor. The rim shows some signs of erosion, likely due to subsequent, smaller impacts. No significant central peak is present. The surrounding Lacus Somniorum surface is generally smooth, with a low albedo.

The crater was named after Nathaniel Bliss (1700-1764), a British astronomer and Astronomer Royal. The name was officially approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1935. It is sometimes referred to informally as the "Bliss Crater," although the official IAU designation simply uses "Bliss."