KUON GEO

The Moon, named after France

199 named features. The International Astronomical Union records why each name was chosen, and those reasons are printed below exactly as they were approved.

FEATURES · 199

NAMETYPESIZEWHY THAT NAME
Poincarécrater346 kmJules Henri; French mathematician, physicist (1854-1912).
Baillycrater300.6 kmJean Sylvain; French astronomer (1736-1793).
Vallis Bouvardvalley287.9 kmAlexis; French astronomer, mathematician (1767-1843).
Rimae Merseniusrille240 kmNamed for nearby crater.
d'Alembertcrater233.6 kmJean-Le-Rond; French mathematician, physicist (1717-1783).
Pasteurcrater232.8 kmLouis; French chemist, microbiologist (1822-1895).
Galoiscrater232 kmEvariste; French mathematician (1811-1832).
Deslandrescrater227 kmHenri Alexandre; French astrophysicist (1853-1948).
Janssencrater200.7 kmPierre Jules César; French astronomer (1824-1907).
Petaviuscrater184.1 kmPetau, Denis; French chronologist, astronomer (1583-1652).
Rimae Herigoniusrille180 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Fabrycrater179.4 kmCharles; French physicist (1867-1945).
Joliotcrater172.8 kmFrederic Joliot-Curie; French physicist; Nobel laureate (1900-1958).
Rupes Cauchyrupes169.9 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Rima Cauchyrille167 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Lippmanncrater160.1 kmGabriel; French physicist; Nobel laureate (1845-1921).
Rochecrater152.7 kmÉdouard Albert; French astronomer (1820-1883).
Lyotcrater150.6 kmBernard Ferdinand; French astronomer (1897-1952).
Jules Vernecrater145.5 kmFrench writer (1828-1905).
Curiecrater138.9 kmPierre; French physicist, chemist; Nobel laureate (1859-1906).
Antoniadicrater137.9 kmEugène Michael; Turkish-born French astronomer (1870-1944).
Brianchoncrater137.3 kmCharles-Julien; French mathematician (1783-1864).
Furneriuscrater135 kmFournier, Georges: French mathematician (1595-1652).
Boussingaultcrater127.6 kmJean Baptiste Dieudonne; French chemist (1802-1887).
Carnotcrater126.1 kmNicolas-Léonard Sadi; French physicist (1796-1832).
Le Gentilcrater125.4 kmGuillaume Hyazinthe; French astronomer (1725-1792).
Orontiuscrater121 kmOronce Fine (Orontius Finaeus Delphinatus); French mathematician, cartographer (1494-1555).
Rima Mairanrille120.5 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Rimae Janssenrille120 kmWithin crater.
Letronnecrater117.6 kmJean Antoine; French archaeologist (1787-1848).
Goldschmidtcrater115.3 kmHermann; French astronomer of German origin, discoverer of asteroid (21) Lutetia (1802-1866).
Lamarckcrater114.7 kmJean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet; French natural historian (1744-1829).
Gassendicrater111.4 kmPierre; French astronomer, mathematician (1592-1655).
Rimae Petaviusrille110 kmWithin crater.
Hermitecrater108.6 kmCharles; French mathematician (1822-1901).
Pascalcrater108.2 kmBlaise; French mathematician (1623-1662).
Fizeaucrater107.1 kmArmand-Hippolyte-Louis; French physicist (1819-1896).
Buffoncrater105.8 kmGeorges Louis Leclerc; French natural historian (1707-1788).
Rimae Chacornacrille100 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Chrétiencrater98.6 kmHenri; French mathematician, astronomer (1870-1956).
Dorsum Cayeuxdorsum95.1 kmLucien; French sedimentary petrographer (1864-1944).
Pontécoulantcrater91.4 kmPhilippe Gustave Doulcet, Comte De Pontécoulant; French mathematician (1795-1874).
Coulombcrater89.7 kmCharles-Augustin de; French physicist (1736-1806).
Dorsum Termierdorsum89.7 kmPierre-Marie; French geologist (1859-1930).
Baillaudcrater89.4 km(Édouard) Benjamin; French astronomer (1848-1934).
Pingrécrater88.4 kmAlexandre Guy; French astronomer (1711-1796).
Vietacrater87.2 kmFrancois; French mathematician (1540-1603).
Scaligercrater86.4 kmJoseph Justus; French chronologist (1540-1609).
Rima Louvillerille86 kmJacques D'Allonville, Chevalier de Louville; French astronomer, mathematician (1671-1732).
Desarguescrater84.9 kmGérard; French mathematician, engineer (1593-1662).
Merseniuscrater84.5 kmMersenne, Marin; French mathematician, physicist (1588-1648).
Lamécrater84.3 kmGabriel; French mathematician (1795-1870).
Montgolfiercrater83.7 kmJacques-Étienne; French inventor (1745-1799); Joseph-Michael; French inventor (1740-1810).
Mouchezcrater82.8 kmErnest Amedee Barthelemy; French astronomer (1821-1892).
Rabbi Levicrater82.4 kmGershon, Levi Ben; French philosopher, mathematician, astronomer (1288-1344).
Oresmecrater82.1 kmOresme, Nicole; French mathematician (1323(?)-1382).
Cabannescrater81.3 kmJean; French physicist (1885-1959).
La Pérousecrater80.4 kmJean Francois de Galoup, Comte De La Pérouse; French explorer (1741-1788).
Aliacensiscrater79.7 kmD'Ailly, Pierre; French geographer (1350-1420).
Cyranocrater79.6 kmCyrano De Bergerac Savinien; French writer (1615-1655).
Corioliscrater78.6 kmGaspard-Gustave de; French physicist (1792-1843).
Legendrecrater78.1 kmAdrien Marie; French mathematician (1752-1833).
Cuviercrater77.3 kmGeorges; French natural scientist, paleontologist (1769-1832).
Clairautcrater76.9 kmAlexis Claude; French mathematician (1713-1765).
Esnault-Pelteriecrater76.8 kmRobert-Albert-Charles; French rocketry engineer (1881-1957).
Flammarioncrater76.2 kmCamille; French astronomer (1842-1925).
Rimae Fresnelrille75 kmNamed from nearby promontorium.
Condorcetcrater74.9 kmJean de; French mathematician (1743-1794).
Rima Messierrille74.2 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Mineurcrater72.3 kmHenri; French mathematician, astronomer (1899-1954).
Lavoisiercrater71 kmAntoine Laurent; French chemist (1743-1794).
Mariottecrater70.3 kmEdme; French physicist (1620-1684).
Rimae Gassendirille70 kmWithin crater.
Rima Billyrille69.8 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Danjoncrater69.3 kmAndre; French astronomer (1890-1967).
Ferneliuscrater68.4 kmJean François; French doctor, astronomer (1497-1558).
Le Monniercrater68.4 kmPierre Charles; French astronomer, physicist (1715-1799).
Ponceletcrater67.6 kmJean-Victor; French mathematician, engineer (1788-1867).
La Caillecrater67.2 kmNicholas-Louis De; French astronomer (1713-1762).
Rima Furneriusrille65.9 kmWithin crater.
Barbiercrater65.4 kmDaniel; French astronomer (1907-1965).
Poinsotcrater65.1 kmLouis; French mathematician (1777-1859).
Pilâtrecrater64.4 kmJean-François Pilâtre de Rozier; French aeronaut (1756-1785).
Becquerelcrater62.9 kmAntoine-Henri; French physicist; Nobel laureate (1852-1908).
Teisserenccrater62.3 kmde Bort, Leon-Philippe; French meteorologist (1855-1913).
Peiresciuscrater61.5 kmPeiresc, Nicolas Claude Fabri De; French astronomer, archaeologist (1580-1637).
Buissoncrater61.3 kmHenri; French physicist, astronomer (1873-1944).
Rimae Focasrille61 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Bullialduscrater60.7 kmBoulliau, Ismael; French astronomer (1605-1694).
Niepcecrater59.7 kmJoseph-Nicéphore; French physicist, photographer (1765-1833). (Spelling changed from Niépce.)
Bonplandcrater59.3 kmAimé-Jacques-Alexandre; French botanist (1773-1858).
Langevincrater57.8 kmPaul; French physicist (1872-1946).
Rima Delislerille57.6 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Cassegraincrater56.7 kmLaurent; French astronomer, doctor (1629-1693).
Baldetcrater55.8 kmFernand; French astronomer (1885-1964).
Chappecrater55.8 kmd'Auteroche, Jean-Baptiste; French astronomer (1728-1769).
Cailleuxcrater52.9 kmAndre; French geologist (1907-1986).
Fouriercrater51.6 kmJean-Baptiste Joseph; French mathematician (1768-1830).
Delambrecrater51.5 kmJean-Baptiste Joseph; French astronomer (1749-1822).
Réaumurcrater51.3 kmRené-Antoine Ferchault de; French physicist (1683-1757).
Regnaultcrater51.3 kmHenri Victor; French chemist; physicist (1810-1878).
Beaumontcrater50.7 kmJean-Baptiste-Armand-Louis-Léonce Élie de; French geologist (1798-1874).
Chacornaccrater50.4 kmJean; French astronomer (1823-1873).
Promontorium Laplacepromontorium50 kmPierre Simon; French mathematician, astronomer (1749-1827).
Rimae Maupertuisrille50 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Rima Flammarionrille49.8 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Champollioncrater49 kmJean-François; French Egyptologist (1790-1832).
Descartescrater47.7 kmRené; French mathematician, philosopher (1596-1650).
Daguerrecrater45.8 kmLouis-Jacques-Mandé; French artist, chemist, photographer (1789-1851).
Billycrater45.6 kmJacques de; French mathematician (1602-1679).
Maupertuiscrater45.5 kmPierre Louis Moreau de; French mathematician (1698-1759).
Bordacrater45.4 kmJean Charles de; French astronomer (1733-1799).
Delaunaycrater44.6 kmCharles-Eugène; French astronomer (1816-1872).
Poissoncrater41.4 kmSimeon Denis; French mathematician (1781-1840).
Dorsum Guettarddorsum40.5 kmJean-Etienne; French geologist, mineralogist (1715-1786).
Rima Gay-Lussacrille40 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Ponscrater39.7 kmJean Louis; French astronomer (1761-1831).
Mairancrater39.5 kmJean Jacques D'Ortous De; French geophysicist (1678-1771).
Fayecrater38 kmHervé-Auguste-Etienne-Albans; French astronomer (1814-1902).
Fermatcrater37.8 kmPierre De; French mathematician (1601-1665).
La Condaminecrater37.8 kmCharles-Marie de; French astronomer, physicist (1701-1774).
Fontenellecrater37.7 kmBernard Le Bovier De; French astronomer (1657-1757).
Blanchardcrater37.5 kmJean-Pierre-François; French aeronaut (1753-1809).
Moignocrater36.8 kmFrancois Napoleon Marie; French mathematician, physicist (1804-1884).
Plantécrater36.8 kmGaston; French physicist (1834-1889).
Damoiseaucrater36.7 kmBaron Marie-Charles-Theodor de; French astronomer (1768-1846).
Mongecrater36.6 kmGaspard; French mathematician (1746-1818).
Dufaycrater36.1 kmJean Claude Barthélemy; French astronomer (1896-1967).
Lacroixcrater36.1 kmSylvestre Francois; French mathematician (1765-1843).
Louvillecrater34.8 kmJacques D'Allonville, Chevalier de Louville; French astronomer, mathematician (1671-1732).
Tisserandcrater34.6 kmFrancois Felix; French astronomer (1845-1896).
Godincrater34.3 kmLouis; French astronomer, mathematician (1704-1760).
Gaudibertcrater33.1 kmCasimir Marie; French astronomer (1823-1901).
Auzoutcrater32.9 kmAdrien; French astronomer, physicist (1622-1691).
Mons Delislemons32.4 kmNamed from nearby crater.
Delmottecrater32.2 kmGabriel; French astronomer (1876-1950).
Rima Réaumurrille30.7 kmNamed from nearby crater.
D'Arsonvalcrater30.4 kmJacques Arsène; French physicist (1851-1940).
Mons Ampèremons30 kmAndré-Marie; French physicist (1775-1836).
Rayetcrater27.8 kmGeorges-Antoine-Pons; French astronomer (1839-1906).
Aragocrater25.5 kmDominique Francois Jean; French astronomer (1786-1853).
Gay-Lussaccrater25.4 kmJoseph Louis; French physicist (1778-1850).
Chalongecrater25.1 kmDaniel; French astronomer (1895-1977).
Foucaultcrater25.1 kmLeon; French physicist (1819-1868).
Puiseuxcrater25 kmPierre; French astronomer (1855-1928).
Delislecrater24.8 kmJoseph Nicolas; French astronomer (1688-1768).
Gambartcrater24.7 kmJean-Felix-Adolphe; French astronomer (1800-1836).
Lalandecrater23.5 kmJoseph Jérôme Le François de; French astronomer (1732-1807).
Loewycrater22.5 kmMaurice (Moritz); French astronomer (1833-1907).
Moissancrater22.5 kmFerdinand Frederic Henri; French chemist; Nobel laureate (1852-1907).
Picardcrater22.4 kmJean; French astronomer (1620-1682).
Bouguercrater22.2 kmPierre; French hydrographer (1698-1758).
Focascrater22 kmIonnas (Jean-Henri); Greek/French astronomer (1909-1969).
Mons La Hiremons21.7 kmPhilippe De; French mathematician, astronomer (1640-1718).
Mont Blancmons21.6 kmNamed for terrestrial mountain in Alps.
Le Verriercrater20.5 kmUrbain-Jean-Joseph; French astronomer, mathematician (1811-1877).
Diderotcrater20 kmDenis; French philosopher (1713-1784).
Promontorium Fresnelpromontorium20 kmAugustin Jean; French optician (1788-1827).
Blackcrater19.5 kmJoseph; French chemist (1728-1799).
Coudercrater18.6 kmAndré; French astronomer (1897-1979).
Bellotcrater17.5 kmJoseph Rene; French explorer (1826-1853).
Lallemandcrater16.7 kmAndre; French astronomer (1904-1978).
Promontorium Devillepromontorium16.6 kmSainte-Claire Charles; French geologist (1814-1876).
Lepautecrater16.4 kmNicole Reine De La Briere; French astronomer (1723-1788).
North Massifapollo16.3 kmAstronaut-named feature, Apollo 17 site.
Liouvillecrater16.1 kmJoseph; French mathematician (1809-1882).
Carrelcrater15.6 kmAlexis; French doctor, physiologist; Nobel laureate (1873-1944).
Cartancrater15.6 kmElie-Joseph; French mathematician (1869-1951).
Esclangoncrater15.3 kmErnest Benjamin; French astronomer (1876-1954).
Herigoniuscrater14.9 kmHerigone, Pierre; French mathematician, astronomer (fl. 1634).
Darneycrater14.8 kmMaurice; French astronomer (1882-1958).
Daubréecrater14.7 kmGabriel-Auguste; French geologist (1814-1896).
Nicolletcrater14.7 kmJoseph Nicholas; French astronomer (1786-1843).
Messiercrater13.8 kmCharles; French astronomer (1730-1817).
Biotcrater13 kmJean-Baptiste; French astronomer (1774-1862).
Grignardcrater13 kmVictor; French chemist, Nobel Prize winner 1912 (1871-1935).
Laverancrater12.5 kmCharles Louis Alphonse; French physician, Nobel Prize winner 1907 (1845-1922).
Lamèchcrater12.4 kmFelix Chemla; French selenographer (1894-1962).
Cauchycrater11.8 kmAugustin Louis; French mathematician (1789-1857).
Lebesguecrater11.4 kmHenri Leon; French mathematician (1875-1941).
Mons Andrémons10.5 kmFrench male name.
Anvillecrater10.3 kmJean-Baptiste Bourguignon; French cartographer (1697-1782).
Sabatiercrater9.6 kmPaul; French chemist; Nobel laureate (1854-1941).
Catena Pierrecatena9.4 kmFrench male name.
Feuilléecrater8.9 kmLouis; French natural scientist (1660-1732).
Trouvelotcrater8.5 kmÉtienne Léopold; French astronomer (1827-1895).
Catena Brigittecatena7.7 kmFrench female name.
Mons Latreillemons6.4 kmPierre André; French entomologist (1762-1833).
Bobilliercrater6 kmÉtienne; French geometer (1798-1840).
Deseillignycrater6 kmJules Alfred Pierrot; French selenographer (1868-1918).
Petitcrater5 kmAlexis Therese; French physicist (1771-1820).
Borelcrater4.7 kmFélix Édouard Émile; French mathematician (1871-1956).
Caventoucrater2.8 kmJoseph-Bienaimé; French chemist, pharmacologist (1795-1877).
Amontonscrater2.5 kmGuillaume; French physicist (1663-1705).
Gastoncrater2 kmFrench male name.
Juliennecrater1.8 kmFrench female name.
Pereycrater1.6 kmMarguerite Catherine; French nuclear physicist who discovered the element francium and first woman to be elected to the French Académie des Sciences (1909-1975)).
Charlescrater1.3 kmFrench male name.
Louisecrater0.6 kmFrench female name.
Names and their origins come from the IAU Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature (USGS Astrogeology), retrieved 2026-08-14.
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DATA: IAU / USGS Astrogeology · NASA LRO LOLA