Adams is a lunar

Moon

The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...

 impact crater

Impact crater

In the broadest sense, the term impact crater can be applied to any depression, natural or manmade, resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with a larger body...

 that is located in the rugged southeastern section of the Moon

Moon

The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...

, near the lunar limb. It lies just to the southwest of the crater Legendre

Legendre (crater)

Legendre is a lunar impact crater that is located near the eastern limb of the Moon. Just to the southwest is the crater Adams. To the northwest is Palitzsch and the prominent Petavius....

. To the northwest are the craters Hase

Hase (crater)

Hase is a lunar crater that is located in the rugged southeast part of the Moon, to the south-southwest of the prominent walled plain Petavius. Palitzsch and Vallis Palitzsch are attached to the northeastern rim of Hase....

 and Petavius

Petavius (crater)

Petavius is a large lunar impact crater located to the southeast of the Mare Fecunditatis, near the southeastern lunar limb. Attached to the northwest rim is the smaller crater Wrottesley. To the southeast are Palitzsch, Vallis Palitzsch, and Hase. Farther to the north is the large crater Vendelinus...

, and to the southwest is Furnerius

Furnerius (crater)

Furnerius is a large lunar crater located in the southeast part of the Moon, in the area close to the southwestern limb. Because of its location, the crater appears oval in shape due to foreshortening but is actually nearly circular. Notable nearby craters include Stevinus to the northwest and...

. To the southwest of Adams is a system of rille

Rille

Rille is typically used to describe any of the long, narrow depressions in the lunar surface that resemble channels. Typically a rille can be up to several kilometers wide and hundreds of kilometers in length...

s designated the Rimae Hase. The longest of these rilles follows a course to the southeast.

The rim of Adams is generally circular in form, but somewhat worn by small impact craters. There is a slight notched protrusion at the southern end of the wall. The floor is undistinguished, with no significant protrusions, and only minor craterlets.

Adams' name jointly honours three astronomers of that name: John Couch Adams

John Couch Adams

John Couch Adams was a British mathematician and astronomer. Adams was born in Laneast, near Launceston, Cornwall, and died in Cambridge. The Cornish name Couch is pronounced "cooch"....

, Walter Sydney Adams

Walter Sydney Adams

Walter Sydney Adams was an American astronomer.-Life and work:He was born in Antioch, Syria to missionary parents, and was brought to the U.S. in 1885 He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1898, then continued his education in Germany...

 and Charles Hitchcock Adams

Charles Hitchcock Adams

Charles Hitchcock Adams was an amateur American astronomer, and father of photographer Ansel Adams....

.

Satellite craters

By convention these features are identified on lunar maps by placing the letter on the side of the crater mid-point that is closest to Adams.

Adams	Latitude	Longitude	Diameter
B	31.5° S	65.6° E	28 km
C	32.3° S	65.5° E	10 km
D	32.5° S	71.6° E	42 km
M	34.8° S	69.2° E	24 km
P	35.2° S	71.0° E	24 km