Aśvaghoṣa (crater)
MESSENGER NAC | |
| Feature type | Impact crater |
|---|---|
| Location | Kuiper quadrangle, Mercury |
| Coordinates | 10°37′N 21°29′W / 10.61°N 21.49°W |
| Diameter | 88 km (55 mi) |
| Eponym | Aśvaghoṣa |
Aśvaghoṣa is an impact crater on Mercury. It is a nearly circular formation, and its rim remains intact, except where it is broken at its southern side, and at its northern side by an indentation from two conjoined craters.
On the crater floor is a central mountain that rises to multiple peaks. Hollows are present on the crater floor around the peaks, and a few are near the crater rim.
The crater is named for Indian philosopher and poet Aśvaghoṣa, and its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1976.[1][2] The crater was first imaged by Mariner 10 in 1974.[3]
Aśvaghoṣa is located south of the crater Abu Nuwas and southwest of the crater Molière.
Views
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A ray from Hokusai crater far to the north crosses Aśvaghoṣa
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Map-projected view of western Aśvaghoṣa crater
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Close-up of the central peak complex, showing hollows
References
- ^ "Planetary Nomenclature: Aśvaghosa". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature Feature Information. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ^ NASA World Wind 1.4. NASA Ames Research Center, 2007.
- ^ Davies, M. E.; Dwornik, S. E.; Gault, D. E.; Strom, R. G. (1978). Atlas of Mercury. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. ISBN 978-1-114-27448-8. Special Publication SP-423.