Rutherfurd is a lunar impact crater located entirely within the southern rim of the much larger Clavius crater. The Porter crater is located to the north-northeast of Rutherford, on the northeast rim of Clavius. Rutherford forms the larger member in an arcing chain of craters of decreasing size that curve across the floor of Clavius crater. The craters in this chain do not appear to be the same age, so this formation is most likely random in nature.

Rutherform crater is somewhat oval in shape, with the long axis oriented approximately in a north-south direction. The northern outer ramparts have a series of radiating ridges on the floor of Clavius crater. The rim is overlaying the inner wall of Clavius, and thus the rim of Rutherford crater is higher above the surface along the north and west sides. The floor is irregular in shape, and there is a central peak somewhat offset to the northeast. The ejecta pattern; oblong shape, and location of the central peak indicate the original impact may have been at a low angle from the southeast.

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 Rutherfurd crater.