Why it matters

Caloris shows that the catalog must handle not only bowls, but also giant basins.

What happenedOne of the largest impact basins in the inner Solar System, defining Mercury's appearance.
Why it mattersCaloris shows that the catalog must handle not only bowls, but also giant basins.
How scientists knowMESSENGER Mission; Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature; NASA Image and Video Library

Measurements and uncertainty

Diamètre1,550 km
Depthnot listed
Ageabout 3.8 billion years
StatutConfirmé
Coordinates30.500° N / 170.200° W
Record levelextended

Extended record: core parameters have an editorial baseline, while age, depth, and preservation still require primary-source review.

Profil scientifique

The basin is surrounded by rings, plains, and tectonic features tied to an enormous impact event.

Data provenanceMESSENGER Mission; Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature; NASA Image and Video Library

Galerie de reconstruction

Davantage de lectures visuelles du cratère

Si l'image vérifiée ne suffit pas, la fiche reçoit une reconstruction scientifique : non pas de la fantaisie à la place du fait, mais une hypothèse visuelle séparée des sources.

Palette du mondeMercurian slate, ash, and sharp light
Color visualization of the Caloris basin from MESSENGER data.
Aperçu visuel actuelPlaque de base : source, matériau orbital ou planche éditoriale où commence la lecture visuelle.
Reverse reconstructionmoving from the present trace back to the impact event
Chronological inversionreading the object from future state back through earlier layers
The present as an archive of the futuretreating today's profile as evidence for future analysis

Visual reconstruction

Reverse reconstruction → Chronological inversion → Bidirectional analysis → The present as an archive of the future

Chaque fiche doit avoir un aperçu visuel : image existante, source traitée esthétiquement ou reconstruction scientifique.

Reverse reconstructionmoving from the present trace back to the impact event
Chronological inversionreading the object from future state back through earlier layers
Bidirectional analysischecking past-to-present and present-to-past interpretations
The present as an archive of the futuretreating today's profile as evidence for future analysis

Historique de recherche

Caloris was partly imaged by Mariner 10 and studied in detail by MESSENGER once full Mercury mapping became available.

Sources

CSVJSONCaloris. Crater.world record. Last reviewed 2026-05-08.
Last reviewed
2026-05-08
Source baseline
MESSENGER Mission; Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature; NASA Image and Video Library
Uncertainty note
Extended record: core parameters have an editorial baseline, while age, depth, and preservation still require primary-source review.
MESSENGER MissionNASA / Johns Hopkins APLGazetteer of Planetary NomenclatureInternational Astronomical Union / USGSNASA Image and Video LibraryNASA

Education mode

Faits

  • The basin is comparable in size to large terrestrial regions.
  • Its name is linked with heat and Mercury's solar geometry.
Glossaryejecta, impact melt, breccia, central peak, erosion
Classroom questionWhich evidence separates an impact crater from a volcanic caldera?
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