Feature type | Rupes |
---|---|
Coordinates | 5°49′N 19°50′W / 5.82°N 19.83°W [1] |
Eponym | Santa María |
Santa María Rupes is a prominent lobate escarpment and fault line on Mercury. [2] [3] According to data from Aricebo, it has a relief of roughly 700m. [4] [3] The formation was named after the ship Santa María, used by Christopher Columbus. [5] [6] The escarpment was probably created as Mercury cooled and thus contracted. [6]