Tombaugh (Martian crater)
Tombaugh is an impact crater on Mars, located in the Elysium quadrangle at 3.5°N latitude and 198.2°W longitude. It measures 60.3 kilometers in diameter and was named after Clyde Tombaugh, American astronomer (1906–1997). The name was approved in 2006, by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature.[1]
West side of Tombaugh (Martian crater), as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter).
Why craters are important
The density of impact craters is used to determine the surface ages of Mars and other solar system bodies.[2] The older the surface, the more craters present. Crater shapes can reveal the presence of ground ice.
References
- ↑ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature | Tombaugh". usgs.gov. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ↑ http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/slidesets/stones/
See also
- Geology of Mars
- Impact crater
- Impact event
- List of craters on Mars
- Martian Gullies
- Ore resources on Mars
- Planetary nomenclature
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