Tuesday, August 14, 2012

“The Hobbit” Author Gets a Crater on Mercury

“The Hobbit” Author Gets a Crater on Mercury:

Here’s a little something to please fans of space, art and fantasy alike (and those who enjoy all three): on August 6 the International Astronomical Union approved names for 9 craters on Mercury, one of which is named for J.R.R. Tolkien, revered author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (among other seminal fantasy works.)
The crater Tolkien is approximately 30 miles (48 km) in diameter. All 9 newly-named craters are located in Mercury’s north polar region and exhibit radar evidence of water ice hidden in their shadowy pocketses.
IAU procedure for craters on Mercury has them named after “deceased artists, musicians, painters, and authors who have made outstanding or fundamental contributions to their field and have been recognized as art historically significant figures for more than 50 years.” Find out who all 9 new craters are named for after the jump:
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Read the rest of “The Hobbit” Author Gets a Crater on Mercury (414 words)

© Jason Major for Universe Today, 2012. | Permalink | 3 comments |
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