Mountain range

Montes Apenninus

A mountain arc bordering southeastern Mare Imbrium. Its ridges and peaks cast long shadows across the adjacent plain under low sunlight.

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Montes Apenninus and surrounding lunar terrain in the LROC Wide Angle Camera mosaic
Montes Apenninus · 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 Montes Apenninus

Follow the chain from Eratosthenes toward the northeast. Low sunlight emphasises the long shadows of individual peaks.

Finding the region

Look at 19.87° N, 0.03° 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

Follow the chain at moderate magnification. When the Sun is low above the lunar surface, mountain shadows emphasise the relief. Apparent height and contrast change quickly as the terminator moves.

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 Montes Apenninus in the atlas

IAU / USGS Gazetteer

Official feature record

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Approved name
Montes Apenninus
Feature classification
Mons, montes
Catalogue dimension / extent
599.67 km
Centre latitude
19.87° N
Centre longitude
0.03° E
Name origin (Gazetteer)
Named from terrestrial Apennines.

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 ArchimedesImpact crater

Archimedes

A broad, dark-floored crater within Mare Imbrium. The relatively smooth interior is a useful contrast to nearby mountain ranges and smaller impact craters.

LROC photograph of EratosthenesImpact crater

Eratosthenes

A sharply defined crater at the southwestern end of Montes Apenninus. It provides a useful landmark between the mountain chain and the plains farther west.

LROC photograph of Rima HyginusValley / rille / scarp

Rima Hyginus

A narrow linear feature crossing the small crater Hyginus near the centre of the near side. It is a more demanding target than the broad maria.

LROC photograph of Mare SerenitatisSea / bay

Mare Serenitatis

The Sea of Serenity is a rounded dark plain in the northern near side. Its shape is easy to recognise among the connected lunar maria.