Beethoven (Mercury)
Data as of 2026-10-23
What it is
- Type
- Crater, craters
- IAU definition
A circular depression
- Diameter
- 630 km, 26 % of the radius of its body
- Centre
- 20.86° S, 235.79° east (planetocentric latitude, east longitude from 0 to 360°, the IAU convention)
- Name adopted
- 1976
- Origin of the name
Ludwig van; German composer of Flemish descent (1770-1827).
Quoted in English, as the IAU publishes it.
In Galaxy
Opens its body in the application, the camera turned towards Beethoven.
Observed by
Instruments whose footprint touches this formation, counted by the PDS Orbital Data Explorer (data frozen on September 29, 2026). A footprint that touches it is not a study of it.
| Mission and instrument | Products | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| MESSENGER · Mercury Dual Imaging System - Wide Angle Camera | 18,089 | January 1, 2000 | March 3, 2015 |
| MESSENGER · Mercury Dual Imaging System | 9 | January 1, 2000 | November 1, 2014 |
| MESSENGER · Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer | 5,621 | August 13, 2004 | April 30, 2015 |
| MESSENGER · Mercury Dual Imaging System - Narrow Angle Camera | 2,813 | January 14, 2008 | April 24, 2015 |
Sources
International Astronomical Union Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, read on October 23, 2026. Feature page: https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/660
Type definitions: IAU Descriptor Terms, read on October 17, 2026. https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/DescriptorTerms