Hokusai (crater)

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Hokusai
Crater Hokusai, Mercury, MESSENGER.jpg
Photo of Hokusai crater by MESSENGER
Planet Mercury
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Diameter 95 km
Eponym Katsushika Hokusai[1]

Hokusai is a rayed impact crater on Mercury, which was discovered in 1991 by ground-based radar observations conducted at Goldstone Observatory.[2] The crater was initially known as feature B. Its appearance was so dissimilar to other impact craters that it was once thought to be a shield volcano. However improved radar images by the Arecibo Observatory obtained later in 2000–2005 clearly showed that feature B is an impact crater with an extensive ray system. The bright appearance of rays in the radio images indicates that the crater is geologically young; fresh impact ejecta has a rough surface, which leads to strong scattering of radio waves.[2]

Hokusai is named after Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), a Japanese artist and printmaker of the Edo period.[1] The name Hokusai was suggested by radar astronomer John K. Harmon.[3] The crater has a diameter of about 100 km; the rays extend for thousands kilometers, covering much of the northern hemisphere.[4]

References

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  2. 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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