March
March (center)
Mosaic of Mariner 10 images
PlanetMercury
Coordinates30°57′N 176°18′W / 30.95°N 176.3°W / 30.95; -176.3
QuadrangleShakespeare
Diameter83 km (52 mi)
EponymAusias March
Approximate color MESSENGER WAC image
Oblique view of March crater

March is a crater on Mercury.[1] Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1979. March is named for the Valencian poet in Catalan language Ausias March, who lived from 1397 to 1459.[2]

At the time of the Mariner 10 mission in 1974 and 1975, March and the three craters surrounding it were informally called the Teddy Bear.[3]

March lies on the east rim of the Caloris basin.

References

  1. ^ Moore, Patrick (2000). The Data Book of Astronomy. Institute of Physics Publishing. ISBN 0-7503-0620-3.
  2. ^ "March". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. NASA. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  3. ^ Flight to Mercury. Bruce Murray and Eric Burgess, Columbia University Press. 1977. ISBN 978-0231039963


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