Van de Graaff (crater)

Van de Graaff is a crater formation located on the far side of the Moon, on the northeast edge of Mare Ingenii.

[2] Van de Graaff has the appearance of two merged craters, approximately in a figure-8 shape with no intervening rim separating the two halves.

The crater walls in the vicinity of Van de Graaff display an unusual grooved texture.

This region lies at the antipode of the Mare Imbrium impact site, and it is thought that powerful seismic waves from this event converged at this point.

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

Oblique view of Van de Graaff from Apollo 17 . NASA photo.
Lunar Orbiter 5 view, facing west.