Fourier is a
lunar impact crater
An impact crater is a circular depression in the surface of a solid astronomical object formed by the hypervelocity impact of a smaller object. In contrast to volcanic craters, which result from explosion or internal collapse, impact crater ...
that is located in the southwestern part of the
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet, with a diameter about one-quarter that of Earth (comparable to the width of ...
's near side, just to the southeast of the crater
Vieta. To the northeast is the
Mare Humorum
Mare Humorum (Latin ''hūmōrum'', the "Sea of Moisture") is a lunar mare. The impact basin it is located in is 425 kilometers across.
Geology
It was not sampled by the Apollo program, so a precise age has not been determined. However, geologi ...
. The rim of this crater is roughly circular, but appears oval when viewed from the
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...
due to foreshortening.
Except to the north-northwest, the outer rim is not heavily eroded. The satellite crater Fourier B lies along the eastern rim and inner side. The inner wall is relatively wide, and is slumped slightly along the edge forming a shelf near the perimeter. The interior floor is just over half the diameter of the crater rim, and is relatively level with a small crater to the west of the midpoint and another near the northeast edge.
Satellite craters
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Fourier.
File:Fourier A crater 4149 h1.jpg, Fourier A
References
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Impact craters on the Moon
{{Craters on the Moon: C-F