Chincoteague (crater)
 Chincoteague crater, as seen by HiRISE. | |
| Planet | Mars |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°30′N 236°00′W / 41.5°N 236.0°W |
| Quadrangle | Cebrenia |
| Diameter | 37.0 km (23.0 mi) |
| Eponym | Chincoteague, Virginia, USA |
Chincoteague is an impact crater in the Cebrenia quadrangle of Mars, located at 41.5° N and 236.0° W. It was named after Chincoteague, a town in Virginia, US.[1] Chincoteague crater has a small central mound. Along the wall, a number of gullies are visible.
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Close-up of Chincoteague crater, as seen by HiRISE. Image close-up view of previous image. Note the gullies and associated landforms. -
Chincoteague crater, as seen by CTX camera (on MRO). -
Gullies on western wall of Chincoteague crater, as seen by CTX camera. Note: this is an enlargement of the previous image. -
A topographic map created using Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) data. This map shows the relative elevation in 100 m (330 ft) elevation contour lines (dashed) and 500 m (1,600 ft) elevation contour lines (bold) with an average accuracy of each point is originally ~100 m (330 ft) in horizontal position and ~1 m (3 ft 3 in) in radius (Neumann and others, 2001). However, the total elevation uncertainty is at least ±3 m (9.8 ft) due to the global error in the areoid.
Gullies[edit]
Chincoteague crater displays gullies on its wall. Many ideas have been put forth to explain them. For many years, many researchers thought they were made by recent liquid water.[2] However, with more observations, other mechanisms became possible. It was observed that new gullies were forming today during the Martian spring when dry ice was able to sublimate (turn from a solid to a gas). Chunks of dry ice could accumulate in the cold winter months and then slide down when warmed. In the thin atmosphere of the planet they would ride on a cushion of gas that was coming off the pieces of dry ice.[3][4][5]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Chincoteague (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
- ^ Malin, M., Edgett, K. 2000. "Evidence for recent groundwater seepage and surface runoff on Mars". Science 288, 2330–2335.
- ^ "NASA Spacecraft Observes Further Evidence of Dry Ice Gullies on Mars". Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
- ^ "HiRISE | Activity in Martian Gullies (ESP_032078_1420)".
- ^ "Gullies on Mars Carved by Dry Ice, Not Water". Space.com. 16 July 2014.