Hovnatanian (crater)
Crater on Mercury
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hovnatanian is a crater on Mercury. Its “butterfly” pattern of ejecta rays were created by an impact at an even lower angle than that which formed neighboring Qi Baishi crater. From the "butterfly" pattern of rays (similar to Messier crater on the Moon), the Hovnatanian impactor was travelling either north-to-south or south-to-north prior to hitting Mercury's surface.[1] Hovnatanian lies to the west of Tir Planitia.
Feature typeImpact crater
LocationTolstoj quadrangle, Mercury
Coordinates7.68°S 187.29°W
Diameter34 km (21 mi)
| |
| Feature type | Impact crater |
|---|---|
| Location | Tolstoj quadrangle, Mercury |
| Coordinates | 7.68°S 187.29°W |
| Diameter | 34 km (21 mi) |
| Eponym | Hakob Hovnatanyan |
The crater was named in 2008 for Hakob Hovnatanyan, a 19th-century Armenian artist.[2]
Views
MESSENGER image showing the bright crater floor and some of the extent of the rays
Oblique MESSENGER image at a low sun angle
