Menrva (crater)

{{Short description|Largest crater on Titan}}

{{Infobox feature on celestial object

|name = Menrva

|image = 250px

|caption = Cassini view of a portion of Menrva, taken on February 15, 2005

|type = Impact crater

|coordinates = {{coord|20.1|N|87.2|W|globe:titan_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

|diameter = 392 km

|eponym = Menrva

}}

Menrva is the largest crater on Titan, with a diameter of 392 kilometers.{{cite web|title=Menrva|url=http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/7025|website=Gazetter of Planetary Nomenclature|publisher=USGS, NASA, IAU|accessdate=January 17, 2016}} The crater is a heavily eroded double ringed impact basin, similar to the impact related features of Mars and Mercury.{{cite journal|last1=Wood|first1=Charles A.|title=Impact craters on Titan|journal=Icarus|date=August 28, 2009|volume=206|issue=1 |pages=334–344|doi=10.1016/j.icarus.2009.08.021 |url=http://www2.ess.ucla.edu/~jewitt/class/Surfaces_Papers/Wood_10.pdf|accessdate=January 17, 2016|bibcode=2010Icar..206..334W}} This is evident by Menrva's distinct lack of a central peak, indicating modification of the crater's surface since formation.{{cite book|last1=Bond|first1=Peter|title=Exploring the Solar System|date=March 12, 2012|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|isbn=978-1-4051-3499-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UIYcAqdH27wC&q=menrva+crater|accessdate=January 16, 2016}} It has been estimated that Menrva is approximately 2.8 kilometers deep.

A network of channels known as Elivagar Flumina flow away from the crest of the crater into a catchment basin.{{cite web|last1=Gilliam|first1=A.E.|last2=Jurdy|first2=D.M.|title=TITAN'S IMPACT CRATERS AND ASSOCIATED FLUVIAL FEATURES: EVIDENCE FOR A SUBSURFACE OCEAN?|url=http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2014/pdf/2435.pdf|publisher=Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University|accessdate=January 16, 2016}}

The feature is named after the goddess of wisdom in Etruscan mythology, Menrva.