Molesworth (crater)

Molesworth Crater is a crater in the Aeolis quadrangle of Mars, located at 27.7° south latitude and 210.9° west longitude. It is 169 km in diameter and was named after Percy B. Molesworth, a British astronomer (1867–1908).[1]

Molesworth Crater
Map of Aeolis quadrangle. The Spirit Rover landed in Gusev crater. It found volcanic rocks that probably came from Apollinaris Patera. A large pile of layered rocks sits in the middle of Gale Crater.
PlanetMars
RegionAeolis quadrangle
Coordinates27.7°S 210.9°W / -27.7; -210.9
Diameter169 km
EponymPercy B. Molesworth, a British astronomer (1867–1908)

Molesworth Crater has a central peak. Impact craters generally have a rim with ejecta around them, in contrast volcanic craters usually do not have a rim or ejecta deposits. As craters get larger (greater than 10 km in diameter) they usually have a central peak.[2] The peak is caused by a rebound of the crater floor following the impact.[3]

See also

References

  1. "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature | Molesworth". usgs.gov. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  2. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/slidesets/stones/
  3. Hugh H. Kieffer (1992). Mars. University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0-8165-1257-7. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
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