Descartes is a heavily-worn lunarcrater that is located in the rugged south-central highlands of the Moon To the southwest is the Abulfeda crater.
The rim of Descartes only survives in stretches, and is completely missing in the north. The crater 'Descartes A' lies across the southwest rim. The interior floor contains several curved ridges. These are concentric with the surviving outer walls to the northwest and southeast.
About 50 kilometers to the north of this crater was the landing site of the Apollo 16.
Satellite craters
By convention these features are identified on Lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater mid-point that is closest to Descartes crater.
To the northeast is Descartescrater, and to the south-southeast is Almanon crater.
A chain of craters named the Catena Abulfeda runs between the southern rim of Abulfeda and the north rim of Almanon, then continues for a length of 210 kilometers across the Rupes Altai.
The crater floor has been resurfaced, either by ejecta from the Mare Imbrium or by basaltic lava, and is relatively smooth and featureless.
This small crater is located at the southwest corner of Rukl's map 45, approximately at Selenographic latitude 14 south, Selenographic latitude 7 east.
The small triple crater comprised of Vogel, Vogel B, and an unnamed crater adjoining Vogel to the south, may serve as a landmark.
I located a sunrise ray while observing the crater row Halley, Hind, Hipparchus C, and Hipparchus L. The ray was located to the southeast of the crater Hind and originated from an unnamed crater or depression at latitude 9.5 deg.
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