Different types of geological features on the planet Mercury are named after different things: Mercurian ridges are called dorsa, and are named after

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. Astronomers observe astronomical objects, such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, galax ...

s who made detailed studies of the planet;

valley A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains and typically containing a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams over ...

s are called valles, and are named after ancient abandoned cities, towns, and settlements; crater chains are called catenae and are named after

radio telescope A radio telescope is a specialized antenna (radio), antenna and radio receiver used to detect radio waves from astronomical radio sources in the sky. Radio telescopes are the main observing instrument used in radio astronomy, which studies the r ...

facilities; plains are called

planitiae In geography, a plain, commonly known as flatland, is a flat expanse of land that generally does not change much in elevation, and is primarily treeless. Plains occur as lowlands along valleys or at the base of mountains, as coastal plains, and ...

, and most are named after mythological names associated with Mercury;

escarpment An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that forms as a result of faulting or erosion and separates two relatively level areas having different elevations. Due to the similarity, the term '' scarp'' may mistakenly be incorrectly used inte ...

s are called

rupes Rupes (plural ) is the Latin word for 'cliff'. It is used in planetary geology to refer to escarpments on other worlds. , the International Astronomical Union, IAU has named 62 such features in the Solar System, on Mercury (planet), Mercury (17 ...

and are named after the ships of famous

explorer Exploration is the process of exploring, an activity which has some Expectation (epistemic), expectation of Discovery (observation), discovery. Organised exploration is largely a human activity, but exploratory activity is common to most organis ...

s; long, narrow depressions are called fossae and are named after works of

architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...

; bright spots are called

faculae Facula ( faculae) is a bright spot on the surface of a planet or a star. It may refer to * Solar facula * * Bright spots on Ceres * * * * {{disambig ...

and are named after the word 'snake' in various languages. Longitude is west longitude.

List of geological features on Mercury

References

* Batson R.M., Russell J.F. (1994), ''Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature'', United States Geological Survey Bulletin 212

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geological features on Mercury Surface features of Mercury, * Mercury (planet)-related lists

List of geological features on Mercury

See also

References