Hummocky and shallow Maunder crater

The images were taken in orbits 2412 and 2467 on 29 November and 14 December 2005 respectively, with a ground resolution of approximately 15 metres per pixel.
Maunder crater lies at 50° South and 2° East, approximately in the center of Noachis Terra. The sun illuminates the scene from the north-east (top left in the image).

The impact crater, named after the british astronomer Edward W. Maunder (1851-1928), is located halfway between Argyre Planitia and Hellas Planitia on the southern Highlands of Mars.

With a diameter of 90 kilometres and a depth of barely 900 metres, the crater is not one of the largest impact craters on Mars at present, but it used to be much deeper. It has since been filled partially with large amounts of material.

The west of the crater experienced a major slope failure, during which a large landslide transported loose material eastward, to the inner parts of the crater. The edges of the crater rim that collapsed exhibit gullies which might be associated with the mass transport of the material.

Image Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
High resolution image (1.5 MB)

The above image shows the striking Maunder crater lying at approximately 50° South and 2° East, in the Noachis Terra region on Mars.

The sun illuminates the scene from the north-east (top left in the image).




Image Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
High resolution image (1.3 MB)

This perspective view has been calculated from the digital terrain model derived from the HRSC stereo channels.




Image Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
High resolution image (1.3 MB)

This perspective view has been calculated from the digital terrain model derived from the HRSC stereo channels.




Image Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
High resolution image (0.9 MB)

This view has been derived from the nadir channel which provides the highest level of detail.

The transition zone from the western rim of the crater to the rather smooth crater floor on the eastern edge shows hummocky terrain. Such terrain exhibits small, irregularly-shaped hills and valleys. The hummocky terrain in the Maunder crater was formed by deposition of landslide debris.

In the east, the crater floor is bounded by a trough, approximately 700 metres deep. The trough may be associated with a landslide on the western edge of the crater. Some gullies can be seen on the upper edge of the trough which is possible evidence for water seepage.

The small, 500 to 2500-metre long, dark features on the crater floor are eye-catching. These features are called Barchan dunes, one of the most abundant dune forms in arid environments. Dunes of this kind are also found on Earth, for example in the West-African Namib desert.

Source: European Space Agency
	More on • Mars Express • Mars