Palmetto (crater)
Small lunar crater visited by Apollo 16 astronauts.
Palmetto is a lunar crater in the Descartes Highlands, visited during the Apollo 16 mission. Situated between the larger North Ray and South Ray craters, it measures about 760 meters across and 130 meters deep. The International Astronomical Union officially named it in 1973.
On April 21, 1972, the Apollo 16 Lunar Module *Orion* touched down roughly 1.5 kilometers south of Palmetto. Astronauts John Young and Charles Duke explored the area over three extravehicular activities using the Lunar Roving Vehicle. During their third EVA, they drove along Palmetto’s rim en route to North Ray but did not stop. As they passed, Duke noted a good ejecta blanket of half-meter boulders around the rim and into some secondary craters. On the return trip from North Ray, Duke photographed Palmetto from the rover.
During Apollo 16, the crater served as a landmark designated DE-1/12 and was tracked photographically from the command module. Palmetto cuts into the Imbrian-age Cayley Formation. About one kilometer to the southeast lies a similarly sized crater named Gator.
Quick Facts
- Diameter
- 760 m
- Eponym
- Astronaut-named feature
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
On April 21, 1972, the Apollo 16 Lunar Module Orion landed about 1.5 km south of Palmetto. Astronauts John Young and Charles Duke explored the area over three EVAs using a Lunar Roving Vehicle. They drove along the rim of Palmetto on EVA 3 en route to North Ray but did not stop. As they passed, Duke noted a good ejecta blanket of half-meter-size boulders around the rim and into secondary craters. On the return from North Ray, Duke took a sequence of photos of Palmetto while riding the rover.
Reader's Guide
Palmetto crater served as a landmark for Apollo astronauts on previous missions, designated landmark DE-1/12. Astronaut Dick Gordon tracked it photographically on revolutions 42 and 44 of the Apollo 12 mission. The crater cuts into the Cayley Formation of Imbrian age, providing geological context for the region. Its proximity to North Ray and South Ray craters made it a useful reference point during Apollo 16 traverses. The similar-sized crater Gator lies 1 km to the southeast.
Did You Know?
- Palmetto crater is approximately 760 m in diameter and 130 m deep.
- The Apollo 16 LM Orion landed about 1.5 km south of Palmetto on April 21, 1972.
- Astronaut Charles Duke photographed Palmetto from the rover on the return from North Ray.
- Palmetto was used as landmark DE-1/12 and tracked photographically during Apollo 16.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Palmetto crater and where can I find it on the Moon?
Palmetto is a small impact crater nestled in the Descartes Highlands, positioned between the much larger North Ray and South Ray craters. It sits roughly 1.5 km north of where the Apollo 16 Lunar Module Orion made its landing in April 1972.
How big is Palmetto crater?
The crater spans approximately 760 meters in diameter and drops about 130 meters from rim to floor. A smaller feature called Gator crater lies roughly 1 km to its southeast.
Did the Apollo 16 astronauts actually walk on or near Palmetto?
Yes—John Young and Charles Duke drove the Lunar Roving Vehicle along Palmetto's rim during their third extravehicular activity on April 21, 1972, heading toward North Ray. They did not land inside the crater itself but traversed its edge as part of the mission's geological survey.
When and by whom was the name 'Palmetto' officially adopted?
The International Astronomical Union formally approved the designation in 1973, following the Apollo 16 mission. The name reflects the tradition of assigning terrestrial plant or regional names to smaller lunar features.
What does Palmetto crater tell us about the Moon's geology?
The crater is associated with the Cayley Formation, a unit of Imbrian age, making it a useful reference point for understanding the timing of lunar volcanic and impact processes. Its relatively fresh rim and depth help geologists constrain the era of material exposed in the Descartes Highlands.
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