Dawes Crater is located in the
Sinus Sabaeus quadrangle of
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is also known as the "Red Planet", because of its orange-red appearance. Mars is a desert-like rocky planet with a tenuous carbon dioxide () atmosphere. At the average surface level the atmosph ...
, at 9.2 S and 38 E.
It is about in diameter, and was named after
William R. Dawes, a British astronomer (1799–1868)
who was ahead of his time in believing that Mars only had a thin atmosphere. Dawes presumed that the atmosphere of Mars was thin because surface markings on the planet could easily be seen.
[.]
Description
Impact craters generally have a rim with ejecta around them, in contrast volcanic craters usually do not have a rim or ejecta deposits. As craters get larger (greater than 10 km in diameter) they usually have a central peak.
The peak is caused by a rebound of the crater floor following the impact.
Sometimes craters expose layers that were buried. Rocks from deep underground are tossed onto the surface. Hence, craters can show us what lies deep under the surface.
Gallery
Wikidawes.jpg, Part of Dawes Crater showing eroding wall on left and dunes on crater floor on the right. Picture taken with CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
The ''Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter'' (''MRO'') is a spacecraft designed to search for the existence of water on Mars and provide support for missions to Mars, as part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program. It was launched from Cape Canaveral on Au ...
).
Dawes Crater.JPG, Dawes Crater floor with fresh impact craters
Sinus Sabaeus map.JPG, Quadrangle map of Sinus Sabaeus labeled with major features
See also
*
List of craters on Mars: A-G
References
Sinus Sabaeus quadrangle
Impact craters on Mars
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