Chernyshev (crater)

Chernyshev is a lunar impact crater that is located on the far side of the Moon. It lies to the southeast of the larger crater Kirkwood, and to the north-northwest of Van Gent.

The crater is characterized by a well-defined, though somewhat eroded, rim and an interior that is relatively featureless. There are some minor terraces along the inner walls. A small, bowl-shaped crater lies along the northeastern rim, and a smaller craterlet is located on the interior floor near the western inner wall. The floor is otherwise marked only by a few tiny craterlets.

Chernyshev is a relatively young crater, likely of Copernican age, given its crisp appearance and the lack of significant degradation. Copernican-era craters are characterized by bright ray systems, though Chernyshev lacks a prominent ray system itself.

The crater is named after the Soviet astronomer Nikolai Chernyshev.