Mount Sharp
Aeolis Mons,[1] formerly Mount Sharp, is a mountain in the center of Gale Crater on the planet Mars.[2][3][4] The mountain is located at 5°24′S 137°48′E / 5.4°S 137.8°E and rises 5.5 km (18,000 ft) high.[2][3][4] Aeolis Palus is the official name of the crater floor plain between the northern wall of Gale Crater and the northern foothills of Aeolis Mons.[1] Mount Sharp was named by NASA on March 28, 2012 in honor of geologist Robert P. Sharp (1911-2004), a NASA planetary scientist for early planet Mars missions.[2][3][4] The NASA Mars rover, Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) (named "Curiosity"), is expected to explore Aeolis Mons after a planned landing on Aeolis Palus in Gale Crater on August 6, 2012.[2][3][4]
Names
In March 2012 NASA published "Mount Sharp" as a term for the previously unnamed central peak of Gale crater.[2] In May 2012 the IAU officially named it "Aeolis Mons", and named a large crater, 152.08 km (94.50 mi) in diameter, located about 260 km (160 mi) west of Gale Crater, "Robert Sharp".[1]
See also
- Aeolis quadrangle/Gale Crater
- List of craters on Mars
- List of mountains on Mars
- List of mountains on Mars by height
References
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
IAU-20120516was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference
NASA-20120327was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
NASA-20120328was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
Space-20120329was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
External links
- Video (02:37) - Mission Summary of NASA's Curiosity Rover After Landing at Gale Crater on 6 August 2012.
- Central debris mound in Gale Crater
