Five New Crater Names for Mercury

Five previously unnamed craters on Mercury now have names. MESSENGER's Education and Public Outreach (EPO) team led a contest that solicited naming suggestions from the public via a competition website. In total, 3,600 contest entries were received and a semi-final list of 17 names were submitted to the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for consideration. The IAU selected the final five crater names, keeping with the convention that Mercury's craters are named after those who have made significant contributions to the humanities. And the winners are: Carolan: (83.8° N, 31.7° E) Named for Turlough O'Carolan, the Irish musician and composer (1670-1738) Enheduanna: (48.3° N, 326.2° E) Named for the author and poet from ancient Mesopotamia Karsh (35.6° S, 78.9° E) Named for Yousuf Karsh, twentieth century Armenian-Canadian portrait photographer Kulthum (50.7° N, 93.5° E) Named for Umm Kulthum, twentieth century Egyptian singer, songwriter, and actress Rivera: (69.3° N, 32.4° E) Named for Diego Rivera, twentieth century Mexican painter and muralist http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19439