Doerfel (crater)

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Doerfel
Normal doerfel-large.jpg
Clementine image
Coordinates 69°06′S107°54′W / 69.1°S 107.9°W / -69.1; -107.9 Coordinates: 69°06′S107°54′W / 69.1°S 107.9°W / -69.1; -107.9
Diameter 68 km
Depth Unknown
Colongitude 111° at sunrise
Eponym Georg S. Doerfel

Doerfel is a lunar impact crater that is located in the vicinity of the southern pole, just on the far side of the Moon. It lies approximately midway between the large crater Hausen to the east-northeast and the even larger Zeeman to the southwest.

The outer wall of Doerfel retains much of its original form, but it has been rounded and slightly eroded by a history of subsequent bombardment. Many tiny craterlets lie on or near the rim, especially along the western edge. There is a slight outward extrusion in the southern rim, and the opposite, northern rim appears somewhat jumbled and eroded.

Doerfel's interior is also marked by several tiny craterlets in the otherwise relatively flat surface. There is a very slight central rise near the midpoint.

Satellite craters

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Doerfel.

DoerfelLatitudeLongitudeDiameter
R71.3° S119.4° W32 km
S69.9° S119.6° W32 km
U68.8° S117.2° W34 km
Y67.8° S108.8° W68 km

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