Spallanzani Crater
Stair-stepping mesas in interior deposit of Spallanzani Crater, as seen by THEMIS.
PlanetMars
Coordinates58°00′S 86°24′E / 58.0°S 86.4°E / -58.0; 86.4
QuadrangleHellas
Diameter71.69 km (44.55 mi)
EponymLazzaro Spallanzani, an Italian biologist (1729–1799)

Spallanzani is a crater on Mars, located in the Hellas quadrangle at 58.0° south latitude and 86.4° east longitude. It measures 71.69 kilometres (44.55 mi) in diameter, and was named after Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729–1799). The name was adopted by IAU's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature in 1973.[1]

Description

Pictures from orbiting spacecraft have shown many layers on the floor of the crater.

Topographic location of Spallanzani crater

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.[2]

Many craters once contained lakes.[3][4] Because some crater floors show deltas, water had to be present for some time. Dozens of deltas have been spotted on Mars.[5] Deltas form when sediment is washed in from a stream entering a quiet body of water. Primitive organisms may have developed in such lakes; hence, some craters may be prime targets for the search for evidence of life on Mars.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature | Spallanzani". usgs.gov. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  2. ^ "HiRISE | High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment". Hirise.lpl.arizona.edu?psp_008437_1750. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  3. ^ Cabrol, N. and E. Grin. 2001. "The Evolution of Lacustrine Environments on Mars: Is Mars Only Hydrologically Dormant?" Icarus: 149, 291-328.
  4. ^ Fassett, C. and J. Head. 2008. "Open-basin lakes on Mars: Distribution and implications for Noachian surface and subsurface hydrology". Icarus: 198, 37-56.
  5. ^ Wilson, J. A. Grant and A. Howard. 2013. Inventory of Equatorial Alluvial Fans and Deltas on Mars. 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  6. ^ Newsom H., Hagerty J., Thorsos I. 2001. "Location and sampling of aqueous and hydrothermal deposits in Martian impact craters". Astrobiology: 1, 71-88.
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