Tsiolkovskiy ( crater ) Crater characteristics Tsiolkovskiy crater from the Apollo 15 showing the central peak . NASA  photo . Coordinates 20.4° S , 129.1° E Diameter 180 km Depth Unknown Colongitude    235° at sunrise Eponym Konstantin Tsiolkovsky Tsiolkovskiy is a large lunar impact crater that is located on the far side of the Moon . It lies in the southern hemisphere , to the west of Gagarin crater , and northwest of the Milne crater . Just to the south is Waterman crater , and Neujmin crater lies to the south-southwest . This feature was first observed by photographs sent back by the Luna 3 . This is one of the most prominent features to be found on that hemisphere . It possesses high , terraced inner walls and a well-formed central peak . The floor is unusual for a crater on the far side , as it is covered by the dark-hued mare that is characteristic of the maria found on the near side . The distribution of the maria material is not symmetrical across the floor , but is instead more heavily concentrated to the east and south . There is also a protruding bay of darker material that reaches the wall to the west-northwest . The remainder of the floor has the same albedo as the terrain surrounding the crater . The crater protrudes into the Fermi crater , a comparably-sized formation that does not have a lava -flooded floor . 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 Tsiolkovskiy crater . Tsiolkovskiy Latitude Longitude Diameter W 16.0° S 126.9° E 13 km X 14.7° S 126.5° E 12 km Trivia In the Fictional Mobile Suit Gundam series , Tsiolkovskiy is the site of Zeon Lunar Base Granada . References See the reference table for the general listing of literature and web sites that were used in the compilation of this page . External links The following L & PI topographic maps show portions of the Tsiolkovskiy crater : Northern half — LTO-101B2 Tsiolkovskij Borealis Southern half — LTO-101B3 Tsiolkovskij Australis Northeast — LTO-102A1 Patsaev Southeast — LTO-102A4 Fesnekov Categories : Craters on the Moon In other languages : Русский Tsiolkovskiy crater from the Apollo 15 showing the central peak . NASA  photo. 20.4 S 129.1 E 180 km Unknown 235 Konstantin Tsiolkovsky 