Akutagawa (crater)

Akutagawa is a crater on Mercury. It is located in the Caloris Basin and is named after the Japanese writer Ryūnosuke Akutagawa.

Akutagawa crater is characterized by its relatively young age and well-defined features. It exhibits a central peak and a relatively smooth floor. Its diameter is approximately 114 kilometers. The impact that formed Akutagawa crater likely occurred after the main Caloris impact event, as it overlies some of the basin's ejecta.

The crater's location within the Caloris Basin suggests it may provide insights into the later stages of the basin's evolution and the resurfacing processes that have occurred on Mercury. Studies of Akutagawa and other relatively young craters within the Caloris Basin can help scientists understand the impact history and geological processes that have shaped Mercury's surface.