Liang Kʻai (crater)

{{short description|Crater on Mercury}}

{{Infobox feature on celestial object

| name = Liang K{{wg-apos}}ai

| image = File:Liang Kʽai crater EN0263201594M.jpg

| caption = MESSENGER NAC of Liang K{{wg-apos}}ai

| location = Neruda quadrangle, Mercury

| type = Impact crater

| coordinates = {{coord|40.3|S|182.8|W|globe:mercury_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| diameter = {{cvt|140|km}}

| eponym = Liang Kai

}}

Liang K{{wg-apos}}ai is a crater on Mercury. It has a diameter of 140 kilometers.{{cite book |title = The Data Book of Astronomy |last = Moore |first = Patrick |year = 2000 |publisher = Institute of Physics Publishing |isbn = 0-7503-0620-3}} Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1979. Liang K{{wg-apos}}ai is named for the Chinese artist Liang Kai, who lived from 1140 to 1210.{{cite web |url = http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3383 |title = Liang K{{wg-apos}}ai |publisher = NASA |work = Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature |access-date = 4 July 2012}}

To the southwest of Liang K{{wg-apos}}ai is Wen Tianxiang crater. To the south is Dostoevskij crater. To the north is Gainsborough crater.

File:Liang Kʽai crater MESSENGER NAC mosaic.jpg|Liang Kʽai at low sun angle

File:Wen Tianxiang crater region MESSENGER WAC IGF to RGB.jpg|Exaggerated color MESSENGER image with Liang Kʽai in upper right