Geology of the Derain quadrangle (H10), Mercury

Abstract

ABSTRACTWe present the results of geological mapping of Mercury’s Derain (H10) quadrangle (0°-72°E and 22.5°N-22.5°S) using data from the MESSENGER spacecraft. The map is presented on a scale of 1:3,000,000, for which linework was drawn at 1:300,000. We distinguish three major morphological plains units: Smooth, Intermediate, and Intercrater Plains. We produced two versions of the map, with craters classified according to a 3- and 5-class degradation system. This allows compatibility with other MESSENGER-era maps and Mariner 10-era maps. This map will help provide science context for the ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury.

Keywords

• Mercury
• planetary geology
• Derain
• impact processes
• planetary resurfacing