Gainsborough (crater)

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Gainsborough
Gainsborough crater MESSENGER WAC.jpg
MESSENGER WAC mosaic of Gainsborough
Feature typeCentral-peak impact crater
Location Neruda quadrangle, Mercury
Coordinates 35°44′S184°31′W / 35.73°S 184.52°W / -35.73; -184.52
Diameter95 km (59 mi)
Eponym Thomas Gainsborough

Gainsborough is a crater on Mercury. It has a diameter of 95 kilometers. [1] Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1985. Gainsborough is named for the English painter Thomas Gainsborough, who lived from 1727 to 1788. [2]

To the south of Gainsborough is Liang Kʽai crater.

Oblique view of Gainsborough near the terminator Gainsborough crater MESSENGER NAC mosaic.jpg
Oblique view of Gainsborough near the terminator

References

  1. Moore, Patrick (2000). The Data Book of Astronomy. Institute of Physics Publishing. ISBN   0-7503-0620-3.
  2. "Gainsborough". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. NASA . Retrieved 4 April 2022.