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Eroded Crater

Sept. 19, 2003
NASA's Mars Global Surveyor shows an old, eroded meteor impact crater in western Chryse Planitia on Mars.

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-488, 19 September 2003

This April 2003 Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows an old, eroded meteor impact crater in western Chryse Planitia near 20.6°N, 50.8°W. This crater is located "downstream" of the ancient outflow channel system of Maja Valles; it is about half the distance between Maja Valles and the Viking 1 landing site, which occurs further "downstream" of this area toward the northeast (upper right). Much of the erosion that wore the crater's rims down to their present, rounded state might have occurred during the floods that are thought to have poured onto Chryse Planitia from Maja Valles. The picture covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) wide and is illuminated by sunlight from the lower left.

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