Oblique view of Planitia Descensus, on the moon, facing north. Galilaei crater is the largest crater above center. The approximate locations of the landing sites of Luna 8 and Luna 9 are shown as 8 and 9 respectively.

Planitia Descensus was named to commemorate the site of the first soft landing on the Moon of Luna 9 on 3 February 1966. It is located at Lat. 7.1°N and Long. 64.4W.[1] It is the only officially named plain on the Moon.[1] The Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU confirmed the name of the site in 1970.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Lunar Plains (Planitia)". Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Menzel, 1971". Wikispaces.com. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
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