Pallas is a heavily eroded lunar impact crater located to the north of the Sinus Medii. It was named after the German-born Russian natural historian Peter Simon Pallas. To the northwest is the smaller but less worn crater Bode. Pallas shares a low wall with the crater Murchison that is attached to the southeast, and there are two gaps in the shared rim.
Lunar Orbiter 4 image
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