Mearcair Planitia (Mercury)

Data as of 2026-10-23

What it is

Type
Planitia, planitiae
IAU definition

Low plain

Diameter
1,175 km, 48 % of the radius of its body
Centre
31.4° N, 132.1° east (planetocentric latitude, east longitude from 0 to 360°, the IAU convention)
Name adopted
March 14, 2017
Origin of the name

Irish word for the planet Mercury.

Quoted in English, as the IAU publishes it.

In Galaxy

See it in Galaxy

Opens its body in the application, the camera turned towards Mearcair Planitia.

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.

Observed by
Mission and instrumentProductsFirstLast
MESSENGER · Mercury Dual Imaging System - Wide Angle Camera11,988January 1, 2000December 15, 2014
MESSENGER · Mercury Dual Imaging System23January 1, 2000November 1, 2014
MESSENGER · Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer1,903August 13, 2004April 30, 2015
MESSENGER · Mercury Dual Imaging System - Narrow Angle Camera7,574January 14, 2008December 21, 2014
MESSENGER · Mercury Laser Altimeter977January 14, 2008April 30, 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/15561

Type definitions: IAU Descriptor Terms, read on October 17, 2026. https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/DescriptorTerms

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