Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Small Impact Crater in Cerberus Palus


This observation shows a lava plain near the Martian equator. The lava is superposed by a small, fresh crater that is itself surrounded by boulders that were ejected from the surface when the impact occurred.

There are dunes on the crater floor, indicating that the crater has been present long enough for wind to blown fine material into the crater and form the material into dunes.

Photo credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Note: This crater is located in Cerberus Palus, which itself is located in Elysium Planitia. The closest named feature to this crater is Eddie Crater, which is located to the northwest.

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