Aristillus

Aristillus is a lunar impact crater located on the Moon’s near side. It is named after the ancient Greek astronomer Aristillus, and the name is approved by the International Astronomical Union. The crater lies in the Moon’s eastern highland region, a part of the heavily cratered terrain that surrounds the Mare Imbrium.

The feature is a relatively large crater with a well-defined circular rim. It measures roughly in the tens of kilometers in diameter and shows signs of a structured interior, including a central peak that stands near the crater’s midpoint. The walls exhibit terraces from the collapse of the rim, and the floor is generally level with only modest craterlets scattered across it. The surrounding ejecta layer blankets parts of the adjacent highland terrain, contributing to Aristillus’ visibility against the lunar backdrop.

Aristillus is a prominent reference point for selenographers and amateur observers alike, owing to its size, shape, and location in the near side. It is most easily studied under favorable lighting conditions when shadows accentuate the rim terraces and interior features.

Satellite craters associated with Aristillus are designated by letters (for example Aristillus A, Aristillus B, Aristillus C) by the IAU. These smaller craters lie close to the main formation and are used to refine mapping of the region.