![]() MESSENGER photo of Matisse (right), from its first flyby in January 2008 | |
Planet | Mercury |
---|---|
Coordinates | 23°48′S90°11′W / 23.80°S 90.19°W |
Quadrangle | Michelangelo |
Diameter | 189 km (117 mi) |
Eponym | Henri Matisse |
Matisse is an impact crater on the southern hemisphere of Mercury. [1] Matisse takes its name from the French artist Henri Matisse, and it was named by the IAU in 1976. [2]
Two faculae (high-albedo areas) within and near Matisse were named by the IAU in May 2023. One is called Ngu Facula, located within an unnamed crater in northern Matisse. [3] The other is called Ahas Facula, located in an unnamed crater northeast of Matisse. [4]
Within Matisse is a dark spot of low reflectance material (LRM). The dark spot is associated with hollows. [5] The dark spot is located on the southwest rim of the unnamed crater containing Ngu Facula.
The smaller crater Lessing is to the south of Matisse.
Mozart is a crater on Mercury, named by the IAU in 1976 after Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Raphael is a crater on Mercury. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1976, and is named for the Italian painter Raphael.
Xiao Zhao crater is small in comparison with many other craters on Mercury. However, Xiao Zhao's long bright rays make it a readily visible feature. The fresh, bright rays, which were created by material ejected outward during the impact event that formed the crater, indicate that Xiao Zhao is a relatively young crater on Mercury's surface.
Atget crater is distinctive on the planet Mercury's surface due to its dark color. Atget crater is located within Caloris basin, near Apollodorus crater and Pantheon Fossae. The dark color of the floor of Atget is in contrast to other craters within Caloris basin that exhibit bright materials on their floors, such as the craters Kertész and Sander. Other craters on Mercury, such as Bashō and Neruda, have halos of dark material but the dark material does not cover the crater floors.
Cunningham is a young crater on the western floor of the Caloris Basin, on Mercury. It is surrounded by a bright ray system.
Praxiteles is a crater on Mercury. It is one of 110 peak ring basins on Mercury.
Alencar is a crater on Mercury. It has a diameter of 120 kilometers. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1979. Alencar is named for the Brazilian novel writer José de Alencar, who lived from 1829 to 1877.
Bartók is a crater on Mercury. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1979. Bartók is named for the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók, who lived from 1881 to 1945.
Bello is a crater on Mercury. It has a diameter of 129 kilometers. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1976. Bello is named for the Venezuelan poet Andrés Bello, who lived from 1781 to 1865.
Tyagaraja is a crater on Mercury. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1976. Tyagaraja is named for the Indian composer Tyagaraja.
Pahinui is a crater on Mercury. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 2016, after the Hawaiian musician, Charles Phillip Kahahawai "Gabby" Pahinui.
Alver is a crater on Mercury. It has a diameter of 151.49 kilometers. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) on March 15, 2013. Alver is named for the Estonian poet Betti Alver.
Rustaveli is a crater on Mercury. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 2012, after the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli.
Seuss is a crater on Mercury. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2012. It is named for the American author and cartoonist Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.
Nathair Facula is a bright region on the surface of Mercury, located at 36° N, 295.5° W. It was named by the IAU in 2018. Nathair is the Irish word for snake.
Zmija Facula is a bright region on the surface of Mercury, located within an unnamed crater that is itself within the larger Rembrandt basin. It was named by the IAU in June 2020. Zmija is the Serbian word for snake.
Mendelssohn is a crater on Mercury. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) on April 24, 2012. Mendelssohn is named for the German composer Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn.
Hafiz is a crater on Mercury. It has a diameter of 280 kilometres. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) on June 23, 2014. Hafiz is named for the Persian poet Hafez.
Wen Tianxiang is a crater on Mercury. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in June 2020, and it is named for Chinese writer and poet Wen Tianxiang.
Coatl Facula is a bright region about 49 km wide on the surface of Mercury, located at 29.75° S, 216.55° W. It was named by the IAU in June 2020. Coatl is the Aztec (Nahuatl) word for snake.