Enheduanna (crater)

Enheduanna is a crater located on Mercury. It is named after Enheduanna, a Sumerian high priestess and poet who lived in the 23rd century BCE and is considered the earliest known author whose name has been recorded.

The crater is approximately 70 kilometers in diameter. Its surface displays evidence of volcanic activity, including smooth plains that are thought to have been formed by lava flows that post-date the impact event that created the crater itself.

The naming of this crater, and others on Mercury, follows a convention established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) where craters are named after artists, writers, composers, and poets who have made outstanding or fundamental contributions to their field. Given Enheduanna's seminal role in the development of literature, her naming as the namesake for this crater is a fitting tribute.