Rūdaki (crater)

Rūdaki
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Rūdaki (below center)
Feature typeImpact crater
LocationKuiper quadrangle, Mercury
Coordinates4°00′S 51°06′W / 4.0°S 51.1°W / -4.0; -51.1
Diameter120 km
EponymRudaki

Rūdaki is a crater on Mercury. On the floor of Rudaki and also in a broad region surrounding it to the west are smooth plains, which are far less cratered than the neighboring terrain (except for the small secondary craters from Calvino crater, to the west of Rudaki). Detailed studies of Mariner 10 images led to the conclusion that these plains near Rūdaki, now called Sihtu Planitia, were formed by volcanic flows on the surface of Mercury.[1]

Mariner 10 image with Rūdaki above center

References

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  1. ^ "Volcanic Plains on Mercury". MESSENGER. JHU/APL. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2017.