Ritchey (Martian crater)
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(Redirected from Ritchey Crater)
| Ritchey | |
|---|---|
 Ritchey Crater layers, as seen by HiRISE. The dark cap layer seems to be resistant to erosion, while the white middle layer is weak. Click on image to see more details. Scale bar is 500 meters long. |
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| Planet | Mars |
| Coordinates | 28°48′S 51°00′W / 28.8°S 51°WCoordinates: 28°48′S 51°00′W / 28.8°S 51°W |
| Diameter | 79 km |
| Eponym | George W. Ritchey, an American astronomer (1864-1945) |
Ritchey Crater is a crater in the Coprates quadrangle on Mars, located at 28.8° South and 51° West. It is 79 km in diameter and was named after George W. Ritchey, an American astronomer (1864-1945). [1]
Ritchey Crater is interesting to scientists because it displays several different layers. A dark layer at the top forms a cap rock that protects the underlying layers from erosion. Under this hard, dark layer is a softer, light-toned rock, that breaks into small boulders. The layers might be formed of volcanic ash, lake or stream deposits, or sand dunes.[2]
References [edit]
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