The surface of the planet Mercury has been divided into fifteen quadrangles, designated H-1 to H-15 (the 'H' stands for Hermes, the Greek equivalent of Mercury).[1] The quadrangles are named for prominent surface features visible within each area.[1] The quadrangles were initially named for albedo features, as these were the most prominent features visible before mapping was carried out by spacecraft. The mapping carried out with the images obtained by the Mariner 10 flybys in 1974 and 1975 led to nine of the quadrangles being renamed for newly mapped prominent features.[1] The remaining six quadrangles were completely unmapped by Mariner 10 and were still referred to by their albedo feature names. Following the arrival of MESSENGER in orbit in 2011, these six quadrangles were mapped and renamed.[2] The base mosaic used in the new maps was produced with orbital images by the MESSENGER Team and released by NASA’s Planetary Data System on March 8, 2013. This global mosaic includes 100% coverage of Mercury’s surface.

Name[3] Number Namesake Albedo feature name[4] Area[5] Mariner 10 map Current map[3] Notes
Borealis H-1 Borealis Planitia[6] Borea North pole to 67° latitude Provisionally called "Goethe", but renamed by the International Astronomical Union in 1976 (IAU, 1977).[5]
Victoria H-2 Victoria Rupes Aurora 0 to 90° longitude, 21 to 66° latitude
Shakespeare H-3 Shakespeare crater Caduceata 90 to 180° longitude, 21 to 66° latitude
Raditladi H-4 Raditladi Basin Liguria 270 to 180° longitude, 21 to 66° latitude none
Hokusai H-5 Hokusai crater Apollonia 360 to 270° longitude, 21 to 66° latitude none
Kuiper H-6 Kuiper crater Tricrena 0 to 72° longitude, −22 to 22° latitude
Beethoven H-7 Beethoven crater Solitudo Lycaonis 72 to 144° longitude, −22 to 22° latitude
Tolstoj H-8 Tolstoj crater Phaethontias 144 to 216° longitude, −22 to 22° latitude Provisionally called "Tir", but renamed by the International Astronomical Union in 1976 (IAU, 1977).[5]
Eminescu H-9 Eminescu crater Solitudo Criophori 216 to 288° longitude, −22 to 22° latitude none
Derain H-10 Derain crater Pieria 288 to 360° longitude, –22 to 22° latitude none
Discovery H-11 Discovery Rupes[6] Solitudo Hermae Trismegisti 0 to 90° longitude, −21 to −66° latitude
Michelangelo H-12 Michelangelo crater Solitudo Promethei 90 to 180° longitude, −21 to -66° latitude
Neruda H-13 Neruda crater Solitudo Persephones 180 to 270° longitude, −21 to –66° latitude none
Debussy H-14 Debussy crater Cyllene 270 to 360° longitude, −21 to −66° latitude none
Bach H-15 Bach crater Australia South pole to −67° latitude

Schema of the quadrangles

Relationship of the quadrangles to each other on the surface of Mercury (North is at the top):[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Strom, Robert G.; Sprague, Ann L. (2003). Exploring Mercury: The Iron Planet. p. 79. ISBN 9781852337315.
  2. ^ "IAU Information Bulletin" (PDF) (108). International Astronomical Union. July 2011: 23. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ a b "1:5 Million-Scale Maps of Mercury". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature (USGS/IAU/NASA). Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  4. ^ "SP-423 Atlas of Mercury". NASA. p. 21. Retrieved 2013-09-19.
  5. ^ a b c d Schaber, Gerald G.; John F. McCauley (1980). Geologic Map of the Tolstoj (H-8) Quadrangle of Mercury (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey. USGS Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I–1199, as part of the Atlas of Mercury, 1:5,000,000 Geologic Series. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  6. ^ a b "SP-423 Atlas of Mercury". NASA. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
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