Rutherford (Martian crater)

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This redirect is about the crater on Mars. For the lunar crater, see Rutherford (lunar crater).

Template:Infobox Mars crater

Rutherford is an impact crater on Mars. It is located the Oxia Palus quadrangle inside Arabia Terra at 19.2° N and 10.7° W. and measures approximately 107 kilometers in diameter. The crater was named after British physicist Ernest Rutherford in 1973.[1]

Description

Rutherford is located in between Trouvelot in the south-southwest and Becquerel to the north-northeast. East-southeast of Rutherford is the crater Radau and due west is Mawrth Vallis, a valley nearly running northwest to Chryse Planitia. More than 500 kilometers to the east is the Prime Meridian.

Some close up images of the crater show dunes and light-toned material. Light-toned rocks on Mars have been associated with hydrated minerals like sulfates. The Mars Rover Opportunity examined such layers close-up with several instruments. Scientists are excited about finding hydrated minerals such as sulfates and clays on Mars because they are usually formed in the presence of water.[2] Places that contain clays and/or other hydrated minerals would be good places to look for evidence of life.[3]

Gallery

  • Western side of Rutherford Crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Light-toned deposits are visible.
    Western side of Rutherford Crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Light-toned deposits are visible.
  • Dunes on floor of Rutherford Crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Note: this is an enlargement of the previous image.
    Dunes on floor of Rutherford Crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Note: this is an enlargement of the previous image.
  • Image of the Oxia Palus quadrangle (MC-11) where Rutherford is located.
    Image of the Oxia Palus quadrangle (MC-11) where Rutherford is located.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature | Rutherford". usgs.gov. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Target Zone: Nilosyrtis? | Mars Odyssey Mission THEMIS". Themis.asu.edu. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  3. ^ "HiRISE | Craters and Valleys in the Elysium Fossae (PSP_004046_2080)". Hirise.lpl.arizona.edu. Retrieved 2012-08-04.


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