Sōtatsu (crater)

Sōtatsu is a crater on Mercury. It is located at latitude 5.3° N, longitude 121.1° W and has a diameter of 170 kilometers. It was named after the Japanese artist Tawaraya Sōtatsu (c. 1570 – c. 1640), a prominent figure of the Rinpa school.

Sōtatsu is characterized by its relatively well-preserved morphology, suggesting a relatively young age compared to other large craters on Mercury. Its interior features a central peak complex and a smooth floor that may be the result of volcanic infilling. The crater's ejecta blanket is also relatively distinct. The presence of hollows, shallow, irregularly shaped, rimless depressions, has been identified within and around Sōtatsu. These hollows are a distinctive feature of Mercury's surface and are thought to be formed by the sublimation of volatile-rich materials exposed by impacts.