Archytas is a
lunarimpact crater that protrudes into the northern edge of
Mare Frigoris. To the northwest is the comparably sized crater
Timaeus, and the smaller
Protagoras lies in the opposite direction to the southeast. Further to the southwest, beyond the opposite edge of the
mare, is the dark-floored crater
Plato.
The rim of Archytas is sharp-edged and shows little appearance of erosion due to subsequent impacts. The outer wall is nearly circular, with a slight outward bulge in the southeast. The interior is rough, with a ring of material deposited at the base of the inner wall. Just to the east of the crater midpoint is a pair of central peaks.
The surface surrounding the crater is relatively smooth to the south due to the
lava flows that formed the mare. The surface is more rugged to the north and northeast. The satellite crater Archytas B, located to the northwest of Archytas, forms a lava-flooded bay along the edge of the Mare Frigoris.
Menzel, D. H.; Minnaert, M.; Levin, B.; Dollfus, A.; Bell, B. (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by the Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews. 12 (2): 136–186.
Bibcode:
1971SSRv...12..136M.
doi:
10.1007/BF00171763.
S2CID122125855.