Von der Pahlen is an eroded lunar impact crater that lies on the far side of the Moon from the Earth.

Farther to the south is the larger Chebyshev, and to the west-southwest lies Das.

Small craterlets lie across the northwest, west, and southwestern rim edges.

The remaining rim edge is rounded from impact erosion.

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