Murchison is a lunar impact crater on the north edge of the Sinus Medii. It was named in honour of the geologist Sir Roderick Murchison. It shares a section of rim with the crater Pallas. To the southeast on the mare is the circular crater Chladni, and to the northeast is Ukert. Farther to the east is the prominent Triesnecker. Murchison lies astride the lunar zenith line, i.e. the starting longitude of the selenographic coordinate system.
Lunar Orbiter 4 image
Oblique view from Lunar Orbiter 3
Sinus Medii is a small lunar mare. It takes its name from its location at the intersection of the Moon's equator and prime meridian; as seen from the Earth, this feature is located in the central part of the Moon's near side, and it is the point closest to the Earth. From this spot, the Earth would always appear directly overhead, although the planet's position would vary slightly due to libration.
Sinus Medii and closer craters with mineral postprocessing
Oblique view facing south of central Sinus Medii from Lunar Orbiter 2, showing Bruce crater at right and Oppolzer crater above left
Oblique view facing north from Apollo 16
Mosaic of the mare surface from Surveyor 6