Dawson is a lunar impact crater that lies on the southern hemisphere on the far side of the Moon.

West of Dawson is the crater Crommelin, and to the north lies Fizeau.

Dawson is a relatively young formation that lies in the midst of a field of ancient, heavily eroded craters.

The outer rim is nearly circular, but slightly distorted due to the craters it overlaps.

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