Proctor is a large
crater
A crater is a landform consisting of a hole or depression (geology), depression on a planetary surface, usually caused either by an object hitting the surface, or by geological activity on the planet. A crater has classically been described ...
in the
Noachis 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 ...
. It was named in 1973 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, flat ...
.
It was one of the first sand dune fields ever recognized on Mars based on
Mariner 9
Mariner 9 (Mariner Mars '71 / Mariner-I) was a robotic spacecraft that contributed greatly to the exploration of Mars and was part of the NASA Mariner program. Mariner 9 was launched toward Mars on May 30, 1971, from Spaceport Florida Launch Comp ...
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 Topography, topographic depressions on Mars. These small-scale and relict Bedform, bedforms were first seen in narrow-angle images from the Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Or ...
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 Topography, topographic depressions on Mars. These small-scale and relict Bedform, bedforms were first seen in narrow-angle images from the Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Or ...
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
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 ...
.
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
*
*
Noachis quadrangle
Impact craters on Mars
{{mars-crater-stub