Kulthum is a crater on Mercury. It has a diameter of 31 kilometers. Its name was suggested by Molouk Ba-Isa from Saudi Arabia, Swiss individual Riana Rakotoarimanana, and American residents Yehya Hassouna, David Suttles, Thorayya Said Giovannelli and Matt Giovannelli in a naming contest which was eventually adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) on 2015.[1] Kulthum is named for the Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum.[2]
 Approximate color image of Kulthum by MESSENGER | |
| Feature type | Central-peak impact crater |
|---|---|
| Location | Raditladi quadrangle, Mercury |
| Coordinates | 50°43′N 93°32′E / 50.72°N 93.53°E |
| Diameter | 31 km (19 mi) |
| Eponym | Umm Kulthum |
Hollows are present as bright areas on the central peak of Kulthum.[3]
The craters Carolan, Enheduanna, Karsh, and Rivera were also named as part of the contest.
Kulthum is east of Rustaveli crater.
References
edit- ^ "Mercury Crater-naming Contest Winners Announced". www.iau.org.
- ^ "Planetary Names: Crater, craters: Kulthum on Mercury". Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ^ Zhiyong Xiao, Robert G. Strom, David T. Blewett, Paul K. Byrne, Sean C. Solomon, Scott L. Murchie, Ann L. Sprague, Deborah L. Domingue, Jörn Helbert, 2013. Dark spots on Mercury: A distinctive low-reflectance material and its relation to hollows. Journal of Geophysical Research Planets. doi.org/10.1002/jgre.20115
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