Holden (lunar crater)

Holden is a large lunar impact crater located in the heavily cratered highlands in the southern hemisphere of the Moon's far side. It lies to the east of the crater Petermann and southwest of Von Baeyer. To the southeast is the even larger crater Schrödinger.

Holden is a heavily eroded crater with a degraded outer rim, though its basic outline remains discernible. Several smaller craters lie along the rim and inner walls, further contributing to its irregular appearance. The interior floor is relatively level compared to the rugged surroundings, and it is marked by a number of small craterlets.

One noteworthy feature within Holden is a system of rilles that traverse the crater floor. These sinuous channels are thought to be volcanic in origin, possibly formed by lava flows in the distant past.

The crater is named after the American astronomer Edward Singleton Holden. Due to its location on the far side of the Moon, Holden is not visible from Earth.