The crater wall and interior have been heavily eroded by many subsequent impacts, leaving the features rounded and irregular. A pair of craters lie across the southwestern rim, and two small craters lie along the eastern rim. The interior floor is irregular.
Prior to formal naming by the IAU in 1970,[1] Appleton was called Crater 129.[2]
Appleton lies between satellite craters that are located on opposite sides of the rim. Appleton R is located just to the west-southwest, and contains another crater just inside its north rim. On the opposite side of Appleton is Appleton D, a comparably sized formation to Appleton R.
Satellite craters
By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater midpoint that is closest to Appleton.
Appleton
Latitude
Longitude
Diameter
D
38.0° N
160.6° E
37 km
M
33.9° N
158.3° E
21 km
Q
34.3° N
155.3° E
26 km
R
36.2° N
156.2° E
39 km
References
^Appleton, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN)
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.