Magritte (crater)
Magritte is a crater on Mercury, near the south pole. This crater was likely created by an impact event, as evident by its circular depression.[1] Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 2012, after the Belgian painter, René Magritte.[2] Magritte is one of several craters on Mercury named after famous artists. Per the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature, all Mercury craters are named after an artist who was famous for more than fifty years who has been deceased for more than three years at the time the crater is named.[3] It is also located southeast in close proximity to a crater famous for its resemblance to Micky Mouse.[4]
 MESSENGER image, from first flyby in January 2008 | |
| Planet | Mercury |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 72.78°S 238.37°W |
| Diameter | 149 km |
| Eponym | René Magritte |
Magritte crater from MESSENGER
A color view from MESSENGER
References
- "Magritte". We Name The Stars. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
- "Magritte". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. NASA. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- "International Astronomical Union | IAU". www.iau.org. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
- "NASA - Mickey Mouse Spotted on Mercury!". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
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