Bashō (Mercury Crater)
| Basho | |
|---|---|
 Bashō, at the bottom right of the picture, photographed by MESSENGER |
|
| properties | |
| width | 32 ° S |
| length | 170.5 ° W |
| diameter | 80 km |
| depth | unknown |
| Eponym | Matsuo Basho |
Bashō is an impact crater on the planet Mercury .
The crater is named after the Japanese poet and philosopher Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694). Although Basho is only about eighty kilometers in diameter, it can be seen from a great height. A bright system of rays makes it an easily identifiable object on the surface. In addition to the long, bright rays, photos of Mariner 10 already showed an interesting halo made of dark material that never covered the crater floor.
See also
Web links
- USGS : Mercury: Bashō. Retrieved March 17, 2010 (English).