Gruithuisen is a tiny lunar

Moon

The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...

 crater

Impact crater

In the broadest sense, the term impact crater can be applied to any depression, natural or manmade, resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with a larger body...

 that lies on the section of lunar mare

Lunar mare

The lunar maria are large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth's Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They were dubbed maria, Latin for "seas", by early astronomers who mistook them for actual seas. They are less reflective than the "highlands" as a result of their iron-rich compositions, and...

 that joins Oceanus Procellarum

Oceanus Procellarum

Oceanus Procellarum is a vast lunar mare on the western edge of the near side of the Earth's Moon. Its name derives from the old superstition that its appearance during the second quarter heralded bad weather...

 in the west to Mare Imbrium

Mare Imbrium

Mare Imbrium, Latin for "Sea of Showers" or "Sea of Rains", is a vast lunar mare filling a basin on Earth's Moon and one of the larger craters in the Solar System. Mare Imbrium was created when lava flooded the giant crater formed when a very large object hit the Moon long ago...

 in the east. Southeast of Gruithuisen is the small crater Delisle

Delisle (crater)

Delisle is a small lunar crater in the western part of the Mare Imbrium. It lies to the north of the crater Diophantus, and just to the northwest of the ridge designated Mons Delisle. Between Delisle and Diophantus is a sinuous rille named Rima Diophantus, with a diameter of 150 km...

. To the south is Dorsum Bucher, a wrinkle ridge running in a north–south direction for about 90 kilometers.

The rim of Gruithuisen is relatively smooth and circular, projecting only slightly above the surrounding mare

Lunar mare

The lunar maria are large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth's Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They were dubbed maria, Latin for "seas", by early astronomers who mistook them for actual seas. They are less reflective than the "highlands" as a result of their iron-rich compositions, and...

. The interior is relatively featureless with a small floor, with mounds of material deposited along the edges of the sloping inner walls.

To the north of the crater, along the edge of the highland peninsula between the two maria is a domed mountainous

Lunar dome

A lunar dome is a type of shield volcano that is found on the surface of the Earth's Moon. They are typically formed by highly viscous, possibly silica-rich lava, erupting from localized vents followed by relatively slow cooling. Lunar domes are wide, rounded, circular features with a gentle slope...

 rise that is designated Mons Gruithuisen Gamma

Mons Gruithuisen Gamma

Mons Gruithuisen Gamma is a lunar dome that lies to the north of the crater Gruithuisen at the western edge of the Mare Imbrium. It is located at selenographic coordinates 36.6° N, 40.5° W. It is named after the King of Zanzibar's favourite cat....

 (γ). Just to the east of this feature is another mountainous rise named Mons Gruithuisen Delta (δ). Northwest of Gruithuisen crater is concentrated cluster of several craterlets, which was most likely formed from a single body that broke up just prior to impact.

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 Gruithuisen.

Gruithuisen	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
B	35.6° N	38.8° W	9 km
E	37.3° N	44.3° W	8 km
F	36.3° N	37.9° W	4 km
G	36.6° N	43.9° W	6 km
H	33.3° N	38.4° W	6 km
K	35.3° N	42.7° W	6 km
M	36.9° N	43.2° W	7 km
P	37.1° N	40.5° W	11 km
R	37.1° N	45.3° W	7 km
S	37.5° N	45.6° W	7 km