Sinton is a
crater
Crater may refer to:
Landforms
* Impact crater, a depression caused by two celestial bodies impacting each other, such as a meteorite hitting a planet
* Explosion crater, a hole formed in the ground produced by an explosion near or below the surf ...
in the
Ismenius Lacus quadrangle on
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 ...
. Sinton crater lies in the northern hemisphere, south of the very large crater
Lyot and west of
Ismeniae Fossae.
It was named after Harvard astronomer
William M. Sinton. The name was approved in 2007.
Description
Sinton crater is believed to have been caused by an impact into an icefield. This impact melted ice and produced many branched valleys. Some of these can be seen in one of the images below. Evidence of an icefield is
lineated valley fill
Lineated valley fill (LVF), also called lineated floor deposit, is a feature of the floors of some channels on Mars, exhibiting ridges and grooves that seem to flow around obstacles. Shadow measurements show that at least some of the ridges are sev ...
(LVF) and
lobate debris aprons
Lobate debris aprons (LDAs) are geological features on Mars, first seen by the Viking Orbiters, consisting of piles of rock debris below cliffs. These features have a convex topography and a gentle slope from cliffs or escarpments, which suggest fl ...
(LDA) in the region. Some of this evidence can be seen in one of the images below.
[Morgan, G, J. Head, D. Marchant. 2009. Lineated Valley Fill (LVF) and Lobate Debris Aprons (LDA) in the Deuteronilus mensae northern dichotomy boundary region, Mars: Constrains on the extent, age, and episodicity of Amazonian glacial events. Icarus: 202, 22-38.]
Wikilyotmola.jpg, MOLA map of Sinton crater and other nearby craters. Colors indicate elevations.
Wikisinton.jpg, West side of Sinton, as seen by CTX camera (on MRO).
Wikisintonchannels.jpg, Channels just to south of Sinton, as seen by CTX camera. These were created when the impact occurred in ice-rich ground. Note: this is an enlargement of the previous image of west side of Sinton.
Wikisintonglacier.jpg, Old glacier just to north of Sinton, as seen by CTX camera. This is one of many glaciers in the region. Note: this is an enlargement of a previous image of west side of Sinton.
See also
*
Climate of Mars
The climate of Mars has been a topic of scientific curiosity for centuries, in part because it is the only terrestrial planet whose surface can be directly observed in detail from the Earth with help from a telescope.
Although Mars is smaller t ...
*
Geological history of Mars
The geological history of Mars follows the physical evolution of Mars as substantiated by observations, indirect and direct measurements, and various inference techniques. Methods dating back to 17th century techniques developed by Nicholas Steno, ...
*
Geology of Mars
The geology of Mars is the scientific study of the surface, crust, and interior of the planet Mars. It emphasizes the composition, structure, history, and physical processes that shape the planet. It is analogous to the field of terrestrial g ...
*
Glacier
A glacier (; ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires distinguishing features, such a ...
*
Glaciers on Mars
*
Impact event
An impact event is a collision between astronomical objects causing measurable effects. Impact events have physical consequences and have been found to regularly occur in planetary systems, though the most frequent involve asteroids, comets or ...
*
Ismenius Lacus quadrangle
*
List of craters on Mars
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This is a list of craters on Mars. Impact craters on Mars larger than exist by the hundreds of thousands, but only about one thousand of them have names. Names are assigned by the International Astronomical Union after petitioning by ...
*
Ore resources on Mars
Mars may contain ores that would be very useful to potential colonists. The abundance of volcanic features together with widespread cratering are strong evidence for a variety of ores. While nothing may be found on Mars that would justify the hi ...
*
Planetary nomenclature
Planetary nomenclature, like terrestrial nomenclature, is a system of uniquely identifying features on the surface of a planet or natural satellite so that the features can be easily located, described, and discussed. Since the invention of the tel ...
*
Water on Mars
Almost all water on Mars today exists as ice, though it also exists in small quantities as vapor in the atmosphere. What was thought to be low-volume liquid brines in shallow Martian soil, also called recurrent slope lineae, may be grains of ...
References
Impact craters on Mars
Ismenius Lacus quadrangle
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