Nereus (crater)

Martian crater Nereus
Planet Mars
Coordinates 2°06′55″S 5°31′16″W / 02.115303°S 05.521192°W / -02.115303; -05.521192Coordinates: 2°06′55″S 5°31′16″W / 02.115303°S 05.521192°W / -02.115303; -05.521192
Diameter About 10 metres (33 ft)
Eponym A Greek god, probably of the sea

Nereus is a small impact crater lying situated within the Margaritifer Sinus quadrangle (MC-19) region of the planet Mars with a diameter of about 10 metres (33 ft).[1] It is located just south of the planet's equator[2] on the relatively smooth Meridiani Planum (plain).[3]

It was discovered by the Opportunity Mars rover on Sol 2010 (2009-09-19), being noticed because it is surrounded by jagged rocks, and was the Astronomy Picture of the Day for 2009-10-19.

It is named for Nereus a Greek god who lived with the Nereids in the Aegean Sea.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (October 19, 2009). "Nereus Crater on Mars". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  2. ↑ Google Mars KML file tracing Opportunity's route (includes coordinates), Tesheiner, UnmannedSpaceflight.com, 2009.
  3. ↑ Panorama of Nereus crater, hortonheardawho, Flickr, 2009-10-14.
  4. ↑ Hesiod, Theogony 233-36, is unequivocal that Nereus is the Old Man of the Sea (ἅλιος γέρων), whereas the Odyssey refers the sobriquet to Nereus (xxiv.58) to Proteus (iv.365, 387), and to Phorkys (xiii.96, 345).

Photos

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