Rembrandt (crater)

Rembrandt
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Rembrandt crater by MESSENGER in October 2008. Image width ca. 1,000 km (620 mi).
Feature typeMulti-ring impact basin
LocationDebussy quadrangle, Mercury
Coordinates32°53′S 272°08′W / 32.89°S 272.13°W / -32.89; -272.13
Diameter716 km (445 mi)
DiscovererMESSENGER
EponymRembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn
Topographic map of Rembrandt

Rembrandt is a large impact crater on Mercury.[1] With a diameter of 716 km it is the second-largest impact basin on the planet, after Caloris,[2] and is one of the larger craters in the Solar System. It was discovered by MESSENGER during its second flyby of Mercury on October 6, 2008.[1] The crater is 3.9 billion years old, and was created during the period of Late Heavy Bombardment.[1] The density and size distribution of impact craters along Rembrandt's rim indicate that it is one of the youngest impact basins on Mercury.[3]

The crater is named after Dutch painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn.

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference NASA1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Watters2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sciencedaily was invoked but never defined (see the help page).