Firsoff is an

impact crater An impact crater is a depression (geology), depression in the surface of a solid astronomical body formed by the hypervelocity impact event, impact of a smaller object. In contrast to volcanic craters, which result from explosion or internal c ...

in the region called

Meridiani Planum Meridiani Planum (alternatively Terra Meridiani) is a large plain straddling the equator of Mars. The plain sits on top of an enormous body of sediments that contains bound water. The iron oxide in the spherules is crystalline (grey) hematite (Fe ...

in the

Oxia Palus quadrangle The Oxia Palus 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 Oxia Palus quadrangle is also referred to as MC-11 (Mars ...

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 ...

, located at 2.66°N latitude and 9.42°W longitude. It is 90 km in diameter. It was named after British astronomer Axel Firsoff, and the name was approved in 2010. Parts of the crater display many layers, as do some of the other craters in the region. Many places on Mars show rocks arranged in layers. Rock can form layers in a variety of ways. Volcanoes, wind, or water can produce layers. There is much evidence that at least some of the layers seen on Mars especially in Firsoff crater involve groundwater. There are mounds in the crater that may have formed from springs. They show breccia sometimes a pit at the top. Some of the mounds are lined up along straight fractures. The mound's composition and shape suggest water came out of the mounds and then minerals were precipitated. A detailed discussion of layering with many Martian examples can be found in Sedimentary Geology of Mars. At a conference in May 2014, Firsoff Crater was picked to be one of 26 locations being considered for the 2020 Rover. Some of the layers in the crater contain sulfates which have a good chance of preserving traces of life. This Rover will look for signs of life and gather samples for return to Earth in another mission. A microscope will look for cells and other signs of life. It will also test a device to extract oxygen from the carbon-dioxide atmosphere of Mars. This is a technology needed for future human exploration.NASA.gov
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Gallery

Wikifirsoffmola.jpg, MOLA map showing Firsoff Crater and other nearby craters. Colors indicate elevations. Wikifirsoff.jpg, Firsoff Crater, as seen by 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 ...

). Wikifirsoffclose.jpg, Close-up of southern part of Firsoff Crater showing layers, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Note: this is an enlargement of the previous image of Firsoff Crater. Wikifirsoffcloseclose.jpg, Closer up view of southern part of Firsoff Crater showing layers, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Note: this is an enlargement of the previous image of Firsoff Crater. ESP 039404 1820landingsitetop.jpg, Layers in Firsoff Crater, as seen by HiRISE under

HiWish program HiWish is a program created by NASA so that anyone can suggest a place for the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to photograph. It was started in January 2010. In the first few months of the program 3000 people signed up to use HiR ...

Note: this image field can be found in the previous image of the layers in Firsoff Crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). ESP 039404 1820landingsiteclose.jpg, Close-up of layers in Firsoff Crater, as seen by HiRISE Note: this is an enlargement of the previous image of Firsoff Crater. ESP 039404 1820landingsitemiddle.jpg, Top part of previous images, as seen by HiRISE Note: dark parts are basalt sand. Wikifirsoffwest.jpg, Western side of Firsoff Crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Wikifirsoffwestlayers.jpg, Layers on floor of western side of Firsoff Crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Note: this is an enlargement of the previous image of the western side of Firsoff Crater. File:26270at.6scale.jpg, Layers in Firsoff Crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. Box shows size of football field. File:26270shortlayersclose.jpg, Close up view of layers in Firsoff Crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. Box shows size of football field. Wikiesp 039404 1820landingdustfield.jpg, Layers in Firsoff crater with a box showing the size of a football field Picture taken by HiRISE under HiWish program. Wikiesp 039404 1820landingfir.jpg, Layers and faults in Firsoff Crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. Arrows show one large fault, but there are other smaller ones in the picture. File:26270faltsmalllayers.jpg, Faults and layers in Firsoff Crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. File:26270faultsclose.jpg, Faults and layers in Firsoff Crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. Arrows show location of faults. File:26270widetop.jpg, Wide view of layers in Firsoff Crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. File:26270widebottom.jpg, Wide view of layers in Firsoff Crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. File:Layered mound in Firsoff Crater, Mars 79401 1820layeredmoundfirsoff 01.jpg, Layered mound in Firsoff Crater from HiRISE image # ESP_79401 1820, under HiWish program File:Layered mound in Firsoff Crater, Mars 79401 1820layeredmoundfirsoff 02.jpg, Layered mound, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. File:Layered mound in Firsoff Crater, Mars 79401 1820layeredmoundfirsoff 03.jpg, Layered mound, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. n The white box represents the size of a football field for scale.

Gallery

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Further reading