Feature Profile & Selenographic Data
- Feature type
- crater
- Coordinates
- 29.25° S · 26.11° W
- Diameter
- 46.32 km
- IAU approval
- 1935/01/01 00:00:00
- LAC quadrangle
- LAC-94 · Pitatus
Geological Chronicle
Mercator is a lunar impact crater that is located on the southwestern edge of Mare Nubium, in the southwest part of the Moon. The formation spans an official diameter of 46.32 kilometers.
It was named after 16th-century Southern Dutch cartographer Gerardus Mercator. It is recorded in the IAU Gazetteer under quadrangle LAC-94.
Chronology & Exploration
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IAU
Name Adopted
The International Astronomical Union officially approves the crater name.
Scientific Sources & References
-
IAU Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature
— Gerard De Kremer (Gerhardus Mercator); Belgian cartographer, geographer, mathematician (1512-1594).
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Wikipedia (en)
— Mercator (crater)
Name Origin
Gerard De Kremer (Gerhardus Mercator); Belgian cartographer, geographer, mathematician (1512-1594).