Donna is a tiny
lunar crater on the near side of the
Moon. Its name is an Italian female given name, and does not refer to a specific person.[1] It is located in the eastern half of the
Mare Tranquillitatis, at the summit of the
lunar dome Omega (ω) Cauchy. As such domes are thought to be volcanic in nature, it appears likely that this crater was created by an eruption. This is in contrast to most lunar craters, which are now believed to be created by impacts. This crater is sufficiently small that it requires a large
telescope to resolve.
To the north of this crater is a fault line in the
lunar mare designated
Rupes Cauchy. It is named after the crater
Cauchy, which lies farther to the north. To the west-northwest of Donna is a second lunar dome designated Tau (τ) Cauchy, which lacks a crater at the summit.
References
^"Donna (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
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.