A Rayed Crater in Elysium Planitia
This image shows a prominent “rayed” crater in the Elysium Planitia region, the second largest volcanic province on Mars.
Rayed craters have distinct lines of ejecta emanating in all directions from their centers, creating a star-like pattern. Originally it was thought that these craters were only present on the Moon, Mercury, and some of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and therefore were only created on surfaces that lacked an atmosphere.
The patterns in the ground in which the crater was emplaced are composed of slightly raised sinuous ridges. These may be pressure ridges and could be the result of the expansion of cooling flood lavas prevalent in the area. Although the surface is presently covered with a light-toned dusty material, the underlying, dark presumably basaltic material is exposed in the larger craters.
Image is less than 5 km (3 mi) above the surface and is 272 km (169 mi) above the surface. For full images including scale bars, visit the source link.
www.uahirise.org/ESP_018352_1805
NASA/JPL/UArizona
A Rayed Crater in Elysium Planitia
This image shows a prominent “rayed” crater in the Elysium Planitia region, the second largest volcanic province on Mars.
Rayed craters have distinct lines of ejecta emanating in all directions from their centers, creating a star-like pattern. Originally it was thought that these craters were only present on the Moon, Mercury, and some of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and therefore were only created on surfaces that lacked an atmosphere.
The patterns in the ground in which the crater was emplaced are composed of slightly raised sinuous ridges. These may be pressure ridges and could be the result of the expansion of cooling flood lavas prevalent in the area. Although the surface is presently covered with a light-toned dusty material, the underlying, dark presumably basaltic material is exposed in the larger craters.
Image is less than 5 km (3 mi) above the surface and is 272 km (169 mi) above the surface. For full images including scale bars, visit the source link.
www.uahirise.org/ESP_018352_1805
NASA/JPL/UArizona