Pitiscus (crater)

Pitiscus is a large lunar impact crater located in the heavily cratered highlands on the far side of the Moon. It lies to the southeast of the walled plain Fabricius and southwest of Hase. To the west-northwest is the crater Riccius.

The rim of Pitiscus is heavily eroded and worn, with a multitude of smaller craters along the crest and inner walls. The most notable of these is Pitiscus G, which overlies the northwestern rim. The inner walls display terraces and slumping in places, particularly along the eastern side.

The interior floor is relatively flat and featureless, marked only by a few small craterlets and subtle irregularities. There is no central peak. The overall appearance of Pitiscus suggests a very old and degraded formation, likely dating back to the Nectarian period.

The crater is named after the German mathematician and theologian Bartholomaeus Pitiscus (1561-1613).