Balanchine (crater)

Balanchine

MESSENGER image of Balanchine
Feature type	Central-peak impact crater
Location	Raditladi quadrangle, Mercury
Coordinates	38°28′N184°29′W / 38.47°N 184.48°W / 38.47; -184.48
Diameter	38 km
Eponym	George Balanchine

Approximate color image of Balanchine crater

Balanchine is an impact crater on the planet Mercury. It possesses a ray system of slightly blue rays which inspired its name due to resembling the tutu in George Balanchine's Serenade. ^[1]

Extensive hollows are present within Balanchine, as well as an associated dark spot. ^[2]

High-resolution view of some of the hollows

Balanchine lies in the northeast portion of the Caloris Basin. To its northeast is Nervo crater, and to its southeast March.

References

1. Ritzel, Rebecca (20 December 2012). "Ballet isn't rocket science, but the two aren't mutually exclusive, either". Washington Post. Washington DC, United States. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
2. Zhiyong Xiao, Robert G. Strom, David T. Blewett, Paul K. Byrne, Sean C. Solomon, Scott L. Murchie, Ann L. Sprague, Deborah L. Domingue, Jörn Helbert, 2013. Dark spots on Mercury: A distinctive low-reflectance material and its relation to hollows. Journal of Geophysical Research Planets. doi.org/10.1002/jgre.20115

External links

• Image of the crater