Space Ref (press release)
Dec 21 2008

Second Group of Mercury Craters Named

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recently approved a
proposal from the MESSENGER Science Team to name 15 craters on
Mercury. All of the newly named craters were imaged during the
mission’s first flyby of the solar system’s innermost planet in
January 2008.

The IAU has been the arbiter of planetary and satellite nomenclature
since its inception in 1919. In keeping with the established naming
theme for craters on Mercury, all of the craters are named after
famous deceased artists, musicians, or authors.

"We’re pleased that the IAU has again acted promptly to approve this
new set of names for prominent craters on Mercury," says MESSENGER
Principal Investigator Sean Solomon of the Carnegie Institution of
Washington. "These latest names honor a diverse suite of some of the
most accomplished contributors to mankind’s higher aspirations. They
also make it much easier for planetary scientists to refer to major
features on Mercury in talks and publications."

The newly named craters include:

Amaral, after Tarsila do Amaral of Brazil, considered one of the
leading Latin American modernist artists.
Dali, after Salvador Dali, a Spanish painter and leader of the
Surrealist Movement.
Enwonwu, after sculptor and painter Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu,
the most renowned Nigerian artist of the 20th century.
Glinka, after Mikhail Glinka, a Russian composer considered to be the
"father" of genuinely Russian music.
Hovnatanian, after Hakop Hovnatanian, an Armenian painter known for
his portraits.
Beckett, after Clarice Beckett, recognized as one of Australia’s most
important modernist artists.
Moody, after Ronald Moody, a self-taught, Jamaica-born sculptor and
painter who found success in mid-20th-century London and Paris.
Munch, after Edvard Munch, a Norwegian Symbolist painter, printmaker,
and draftsman, perhaps most well-known for his painting The Scream.
Navoi, after Alisher Navoi, a 15th century Uzbek poet, considered by
many to be the founder of early Turkic literature.
Nawahi, after Joseph Nawahi, a self-taught artist, lawyer, educator,
publisher, member of the Hawaiian legislature for many years, and
principal adviser to Hawaii’s Queen Lili’uokalani.
Oskison, after John Milton Oskison, a Cherokee author who served as
editor and editorial writer for the New York Evening Post.
Poe, after Edgar Allan Poe, American poet, critic, editor, and
author. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre.
Qi Baishi, after Qi Baishi, a renowned Chinese painter known for his
whimsical water colors.
Raden Saleh, after Raden Saleh, a 19th century Javanese naturalist
painter considered to be the first modern artist from what is now
Indonesia.
Sher-Gil, after Amrita Sher-Gil, an eminent Indian painter, today
considered an important female painter of 20th-century India.
"It was quite enjoyable to consider candidate names from among the
world’s most accomplished people in the arts and humanities," says
MESSENGER Participating Scientist Dave Blewett, of the Johns Hopkins
University Applied Physics Laboratory, in Laurel, Md. "It’s also
gratifying to have the IAU approve names that have meaning to the team
members. For example, the crater Poe (named for Edgar Allan Poe) was a
popular choice, as he happens to be a local favorite because of his
Baltimore ties.

"Having names for many of the prominent craters will help us to
remember and discuss specific locations in this previously
‘undiscovered country,’" adds Blewett.

An image of Mercury showing the locations of the newly named features
is available online at

The addition of these craters, along with the 12 features named in
April, brings the total to 27 newly named surface features for Mercury
in 2008. In September 2009 MESSENGER will complete a third and final
flyby of Mercury before becoming the first spacecraft to orbit the
planet, beginning in March 2011.

MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and
Ranging) is a NASA-sponsored scientific investigation of the planet
Mercury and the first space mission designed to orbit the planet
closest to the Sun. The MESSENGER spacecraft launched on August 3,
2004, and after flybys of Earth, Venus, and Mercury will start a
yearlong study of its target planet in March 2011. Dr. Sean
C. Solomon, of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, leads the
mission as principal investigator. The Johns Hopkins University
Applied Physics Laboratory built and operates the MESSENGER spacecraft
and manages this Discovery -class mission for NASA.

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