Plana (crater)

Plana is a prominent lunar impact crater located on the northeastern part of the Moon's near side. It lies to the east of the large walled plain Plato, and northeast of the smaller crater Semyonov. To the east of Plana is the wide valley Vallis Alps, which cuts through the Montes Alpes mountain range.

The crater rim of Plana is low and heavily eroded, with multiple notches and indentations. It is classified as a walled plain due to its size and degraded features. The interior floor is relatively flat and featureless, covered in basaltic lava flows. A few small craterlets mark the floor, but no central peak is present.

Plana is named after the Italian astronomer Giovanni Antonio Amedeo Plana.

Associated features include Plana P, a smaller crater located just to the west-northwest of Plana, and features within the Vallis Alps. The lava flows that flooded Plana's interior are likely of Imbrian age. Due to its age and the subsequent impacts and modifications, Plana provides valuable information about the geological history of the Moon's surface.