Miyamoto (Mars crater)
| Miyamoto | |
|---|---|
| properties | |
| width | 2.88 ° S |
| length | 7.0 ° W |
| diameter | 160 km |
| depth | unknown |
| named after | Shotaro Miyamoto |
Miyamoto is a crater on Mars , west of the Meridiani Planum .
Miyamoto has a diameter of about 160 kilometers . The northeast half of the crater is covered by rocks that appear to have been formed by water and contain iron and sulfur minerals that are typically deposited at the bottom of lakes and groundwater pools. In the southwestern half of the crater, these deposits have been eroded away and reveal layers of clay and other materials that are otherwise found in the oldest Martian rocks. With an age of more than 3.5 billion years, they date to a time when surface water probably existed on Mars and possibly created favorable living conditions.
Miyamoto is therefore seen as a possible landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory .
See also
swell
- ↑ Possible landing areas for the MSL . Jet Propulsion Laboratory . News from September 29, 2008. (English)
Web links
- USGS Mars crater list (English)