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Nine New Names in the North!
On August 6, 2012, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) approved names for nine impact craters on Mercury, which are circled and labeled in pink on the above image. Previously named craters in this region are labeled in light blue. All nine of the newly named craters are located in Mercury's north polar region and host radar-bright deposits that may contain water ice. Craters on Mercury are named after “deceased artists, musicians, painters, and authors who have made outstanding or fundamental contributions to their field and have been recognized as art historically significant figures for more than 50 years.
Release Date: August 9, 2012
Image Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington