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A Huge Basin in the Unknown Portion of Mercury in the 250°–290° W Longitude Range

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Abstract

A basin with an interior about 1000 km across and an outer rim about 2000 km in diameter has been found on the side of Mercury that remained unknown after theMariner 10imaging in 1973–1975. In its size, which is as much as 1/2 of the Mercury's diameter, this formation is one of the largest basins on the terrestrial planets. The presence of other large features of global dimension on this side of the planet suggests their possible asymmetric allocation on Mercury, similar to that on the Moon. New methods of ground-based astronomical observations including data processing with a special software package have been used.

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  1. Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Profsoyuznaya 84/32, Moscow, 117997, Russia

    L. V. Ksanfomality

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  1. L. V. Ksanfomality
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Ksanfomality, L.V. A Huge Basin in the Unknown Portion of Mercury in the 250°–290° W Longitude Range. Solar System Research 38, 21–27 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SOLS.0000015152.00598.ed

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SOLS.0000015152.00598.ed

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