[meteorite-list] Mars Express Images: 'Butterfly' Impact Crater in Hesperia Planum

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Jan 4 21:18:27 2006
Message-ID: <200601050216.k052Gns18931_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMZLM8A9HE_0.html

'Butterfly' impact crater in Hesperia Planum
Mars Express
European Space Agency
4 January 2006

These images, taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board
ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, show a large elliptical impact crater in
the Hesperia Planum region of Mars.
 
 
<Image>

Map showing 'butterfly' crater in context

The HRSC obtained these images during orbit 368 with a ground resolution
of approximately 16.7 metres per pixel. The scenes show the region of
Hesperia Planum, at approximately 35.3? South and 118.7? East.

A large elliptical impact crater is visible within the scene, measuring
approximately 24.4 km long, 11.2 km wide and reaching a maximum depth of
approximately 650 metres below the surrounding plains.

 
 
<Image>

Black and white nadir view of Hesperia Planum

Ejecta from this impact can be seen extending away from the crater,
including two prominent lobes of material north-west and south-east of
the crater.

The large circular feature, partly cut off by the border of the image,
has a diameter of roughly 45 km.

This appears to be an impact crater that was subsequently resurfaced by
lava flows, preserving the outline of the underlying crater. The curving
features visible in the north of the image, known as "wrinkle ridges",
are caused by compressional tectonics.

 
 
<Image>

Close-up perspective view of 'butterfly' crater - looking north

While the majority of impact craters are relatively circular, the
elliptical shape of this impact crater suggests a very low impact angle
(less than 10 degrees).

The long axis of the impact crater is viewed as the impacting direction
of the projectile. Similar elliptical craters are observed elsewhere on
Mars, as well as on our Moon.

The colour scenes have been derived from the three HRSC-colour channels
and the nadir channel. The perspective views have been calculated from
the digital terrain model derived from the stereo channels.

 
 
<Image>

3D anaglyph view of Hesperia Planum

The 3D anaglyph image was calculated from the nadir and one stereo
channel. Image resolution has been decreased for use on the internet.
Received on Wed 04 Jan 2006 09:16:48 PM PST


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