Balzac (crater)
 MESSENGER WAC mosaic of Balzac | |
| Feature type | Central-peak impact crater |
|---|---|
| Location | Tolstoj quadrangle, Mercury |
| Coordinates | 10°37′N 144°40′W / 10.62°N 144.67°W |
| Diameter | 67 km (42 mi) |
| Eponym | Honoré de Balzac |
Balzac is a crater on Mercury. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1976. Balzac is named for the French writer Honoré de Balzac, who lived from 1799 to 1850.[1] The crater was first imaged by Mariner 10 in 1974.[2]
Balzac is one of the largest craters of the Kuiperian system on Mercury. The largest is Bartók crater.[3]
Hollows are present within Balzac.
Views
Mariner 10 image with Balzac in upper right
MESSENGER mosaic
Approximate color image of Balzac crater
Oblique view of northern Balzac
References
- ^ "Balzac". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. NASA. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- ^ Davies, M. E.; Dwornik, S. E.; Gault, D. E.; Strom, R. G. (1978). Atlas of Mercury. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. pp. 1–128. ISBN 978-1-114-27448-8. Special Publication SP-423.
- ^ Denevi, B. W., Ernst, C. M., Prockter, L. M., and Robinson, M. S., 2018. The Geologic History of Mercury. In Mercury: The View After MESSENGER edited by Sean C. Solomon, Larry R. Nittler, and Brian J. Anderson. Cambridge Planetary Science. Chapter 6, Table 6.4.
