Valley / rille / scarp

Vallis Schroteri

A winding valley on the Aristarchus plateau. Its shape contrasts with the straight fractures and impact features elsewhere on the Moon.

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Vallis Schroteri and surrounding lunar terrain in the LROC Wide Angle Camera mosaic
Vallis Schroteri · 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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Lunar north up, with geocentric libration. Full atlas mode shows the entire facing surface; switch to Selected phase for today’s illumination. Choose a different date in the atlas.

How to observe Vallis Schroteri

Use Aristarchus as the bright landmark. Look northwest across the plateau for the broader curve before attempting finer detail.

Finding the region

Look at 26.16° N, 51.58° W 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

Locate a larger nearby landmark before increasing magnification. Fine channels and slopes demand steady air and favourable illumination. The marker identifies the catalogue centre, not the complete outline of the formation.

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 Vallis Schroteri in the atlas

IAU / USGS Gazetteer

Official feature record

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Approved name
Vallis Schroteri
Feature classification
Vallis, valles
Catalogue dimension / extent
185.32 km
Centre latitude
26.16° N
Centre longitude
51.58° W
Name origin (Gazetteer)
Schröter's Valley.

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 AristarchusImpact crater

Aristarchus

A bright crater beside the darker Aristarchus plateau in Oceanus Procellarum. Vallis Schroteri winds across the neighbouring plateau.

LROC photograph of Oceanus ProcellarumSea / bay

Oceanus Procellarum

The Ocean of Storms is an extensive dark region across the western near side. Unlike the compact circular maria, it has a broad irregular outline.

2,592.2 kmRead guide ↗
LROC photograph of KeplerImpact crater

Kepler

An isolated ray crater in the western maria, smaller than Copernicus but easy to locate by its bright surroundings.

LROC photograph of Montes JuraMountain range

Montes Jura

The curved mountain border of Sinus Iridum. Its arc is a conspicuous outline along the northwestern edge of Mare Imbrium.