Rilke (crater)

{{short description|Crater on Mercury}}

{{Infobox crater data

| title = Rilke

| image = Rilke crater EN1035152526M.jpg

| caption = MESSENGER NAC

| globe = Mercury

| coordinates = {{coord|44.81|S|12.57|W|globe:mercury_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| diameter = {{cvt|82|km}}

| eponym = Rainer Maria Rilke

}}

Rilke is a crater on Mercury. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1976. Rilke is named for the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke.{{cite web |url =https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5035|title = Rilke|publisher = NASA |work = Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature |accessdate = 16 June 2020}}

There is an irregular depression near the center of the crater. Such depressions in similar craters (for example Glinka, Gibran, or Picasso) are thought to be caused by volcanism.

To the north of Rilke are Matabei and Pigalle craters. To the southwest are Po Ya and Sōtatsu.

Matabei crater MESSENGER WAC IGF to RGB.jpg|Exaggerated color view with Rilke at bottom center. Note the bright yellow color around the depression.

Rilke crater EN0242886003M.jpg|Oblique view of Rilke clearly showing the irregular depression near center

Rilke crater EN1015882375M.jpg|Distant oblique view