Copernicus Crater

moon · impact craters · astronomy

Grandest crater. Copernicus Crater is so impressive that famous astronomer Thomas Webb called it "one of the grandest craters" on the entire Moon. It has a central mountain peak and walls that look like giant steps or terraces.

Formed by impact. This enormous crater was created when a massive space rock smashed into the Moon billions of years ago. The collision was so powerful it created the terraced walls and central mountain that make it so special.

Bright ray system. Copernicus has a stunning system of rays, or bright streaks, that radiate outward from the crater like spokes on a wheel. These rays are visible from Earth even with simple binoculars.

Named after Copernicus. The crater is named after the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who figured out that Earth orbits the Sun. Naming lunar features after famous scientists is a tradition used all over the Moon.

Easy to spot. You can find Copernicus in the eastern part of a vast dark region on the Moon called Oceanus Procellarum, which means "Ocean of Storms."