Rembrandt (crater)

Rembrandt
Rembrandt crater by MESSENGER in October 2008. Image width ca. 1,000 km (620 mi).
Feature typeMulti-ring impact basin
LocationDebussy quadrangle, Mercury
Coordinates32°53′S 272°08′W / 32.89°S 272.13°W / -32.89; -272.13
Diameter716 km (445 mi)
DiscovererMESSENGER
EponymRembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn

Rembrandt is a large impact crater on Mercury. With a diameter of 716 km it is the second-largest impact basin on the planet, after Caloris, and is one of the larger craters in the Solar System. It was discovered by MESSENGER during its second flyby of Mercury on October 6, 2008. The crater is 3.9 billion years old, and was created during the period of Late Heavy Bombardment. The density and size distribution of impact craters along Rembrandt's rim indicate that it is one of the youngest impact basins on Mercury.

The crater is named after Dutch painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn.

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