Proctor is a large
crater in the
Noachis quadrangle
The Noachis quadrangle is one of a series of list of quadrangles on Mars, 30 quadrangle maps of Mars used by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Research Program. The Noachis quadrangle is also referred to as MC-27 (Mars Cha ...
of
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Roman god of war. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin at ...
. It measures in diameter and was named after
Richard A. Proctor, a British astronomer (1837–1888).
Dune fields
The crater contains a 35 x 65 km dark
dune field
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...
.
It was one of the first sand dune fields ever recognized on Mars based on
Mariner 9 images.
The crater's dunes are being monitored by
HiRISE
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment is a camera on board the '' Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter'' which has been orbiting and studying Mars since 2006. The 65 kg (143 lb), US$40 million instrument was built under the direction ...
to identify changes over time.
transverse aeolian ridges Transverse aeolian ridges (TARs) are visually bright features commonly found in topographic depressions on Mars. These small-scale and relict bedforms were first seen in narrow-angle images from the Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) and were called “ridg ...
and Dunes, as seen by HiRISE
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment is a camera on board the '' Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter'' which has been orbiting and studying Mars since 2006. The 65 kg (143 lb), US$40 million instrument was built under the direction ...
File:Proctor Crater, Mars.jpg, HiRISE image of the crater with transverse aeolian ridges Transverse aeolian ridges (TARs) are visually bright features commonly found in topographic depressions on Mars. These small-scale and relict bedforms were first seen in narrow-angle images from the Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) and were called “ridg ...
surrounding a large dune
File:Proctor Crater Dune Field.jpg, The edge of a dark dune field on the floor of Proctor crater
File:Wikiproctordunes.jpg, Dune field on floor of Proctor crater, as seen by CTX camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
''Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter'' (MRO) is a spacecraft designed to study the geology and climate of Mars, provide reconnaissance of future landing sites, and relay data from surface missions back to Earth. It was launched on August 12, 2005, an ...
.
File:Wikiproctordunesclose.jpg, Close-up of dunes on floor of Proctor crater, as seen by CTX camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. This is an enlargement of part of previous image.
See also
*
List of craters on Mars: O-Z
References
External links
*
*
{{Portal bar, Solar System
Noachis quadrangle
Impact craters on Mars