2 April 2006
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a pedestal crater in the Promethei Terra region. The ejecta from an impact crater is usually rocky. The rocks in the ejecta help shield the terrain beneath the ejecta from being eroded away by wind. Thus, over time, some craters appear to be raised on pedestals defined by their ejecta blankets, because wind has stripped away tons and tons of surrounding material.
Location near
: 65.4°S, 264.7°W
Image width
: ~3 km (~1.9 mi)
Illumination from
: upper left
Season
: Southern Autumn
Name | Value | Additional Values |
---|---|---|
Target | Mars | |
System | ||
Target Type | Planet | |
Mission | Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) | |
Instrument Host | Mars Global Surveyor | |
Host Type | Orbiter | |
Instrument | Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) | |
Detector | ||
Extra Keywords | Crater, Grayscale, Impact | |
Acquisition Date | ||
Release Date | 2006-04-02 | |
Date in Caption | 2006-04-02 | |
Image Credit | NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems | |
Source | photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA08029 | |
Identifier | PIA08029 |