Donelaitis (crater)
 MESSENGER NAC image of Donelaitis, slightly right of center | |
| Feature type | Central-peak impact crater |
|---|---|
| Location | Debussy quadrangle, Mercury |
| Coordinates | 52°58′S 321°35′W / 52.96°S 321.58°W |
| Diameter | 85 km (53 mi) |
| Eponym | Kristijonas Donelaitis |
Donelaitis is a crater on Mercury. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) on May 15, 2013. Donelaitis is named for the Lithuanian poet Kristijonas Donelaitis.[1]
Around the central peak of Donelaitis crater is an irregular, U-shaped depression. The depression is similar to those within Navoi, Lermontov, Scarlatti, and Praxiteles. The depressions resemble those associated with volcanic explosions.[2] The irregular bright area of the crater floor including the depression was named Gata Facula in 2018.[3]
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Oblique view looking south -
Slightly oblique view
References
[edit]- ^ "Donelaitis". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. IAU/USGS/NASA. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ "Navoi: An Uncommon Crater Named for the Uzbek Poet". Messenger. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
- ^ "Gata Facula". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. IAU/USGS/NASA. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
