Impact crater

Cyrillus

A worn crater beside Mare Nectaris, partly overlapped by Theophilus. The adjoining rims illustrate how later impacts reshape older terrain.

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Cyrillus and surrounding lunar terrain in the LROC Wide Angle Camera mosaic
Cyrillus · North up, east right. Open image ↗
NASA / GSFC / Arizona State University · LROC WAC mosaic via USGS. Regional map crop; lighting is fixed and does not follow the selected date.
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How to observe Cyrillus

Compare its interrupted outline with the more distinct rim of Theophilus. Follow the shared boundary at low Sun angles.

Finding the region

Look at 13.29° S, 24.07° E on the lunar disc. The chart marker identifies the catalogue centre. Start with a wide field and use the nearby formations below as landmarks.

Equipment & conditions

Start at low magnification to identify the rim. Move to a moderate power when the air is steady; low sunlight usually makes walls and floor relief easier to distinguish. A bright ray system can be more conspicuous near full Moon.

Lighting

For surface relief, try a time when the Sun is low over this region. To compare surface brightness and any bright rays, return under higher illumination. The atlas calculates the solar elevation at the formation’s centre for any selected date.

View Cyrillus in the atlas

IAU / USGS Gazetteer

Official feature record

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Approved name
Cyrillus
Feature classification
Crater, craters
Catalogue diameter
98.09 km
Centre latitude
13.29° S
Centre longitude
24.07° E
Name origin (Gazetteer)
Saint Cyril; Egyptian theologian, chronologist (unkn-A.D. 444).

Coordinates are selenographic, with east-positive longitude. Dimensions are the Gazetteer’s catalogue values; for extended formations they do not represent a circular crater diameter. Data snapshot: 2026-09-16. Observing guidance above is separate from the official record.

Nearby formations

The four closest catalogue entries, measured from their centres.

LROC photograph of TheophilusImpact crater

Theophilus

The northern member of the Theophilus–Cyrillus–Catharina group beside Mare Nectaris. Its prominent central mountains contrast with its older-looking neighbours.

LROC photograph of CatharinaImpact crater

Catharina

The southern member of a conspicuous three-crater group west of Mare Nectaris. Its irregular interior offers a contrast to nearby Theophilus.

LROC photograph of Mare NectarisSea / bay

Mare Nectaris

The Sea of Nectar is a compact dark plain southeast of the main central maria. The adjoining highlands contain a striking chain of large craters.

LROC photograph of Mare TranquillitatisSea / bay

Mare Tranquillitatis

The Sea of Tranquility is an irregular dark plain in the eastern near side, known as the region of the Apollo 11 landing.