It was named after ancient Greek navigator and geographer Pytheas of Massalia.

[1] It has a sharply defined rim, a hummocky outer rampart, and an irregular interior due to slumping or fall-back.

The crater possesses a small ray system that extends for a radius of about 50 kilometers.

It is surrounded by lunar mare that is dusted with ray material from Copernicus to the south.

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