Burnham is a small crater located to the southeast of the crater Albategnius, in a relatively smooth area of the lunar surface.

The irregular tooth-like shape of the rim of Burnham protrudes to the southwest, giving the wall a distorted, asymmetric appearance.

There are breaks in the rim to the northwest and southwest, the later forming a valley running about 15 km.

The interior floor is rough and irregular, and lacks anything resembling a central peak.

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