Secchi (Martian crater)

Secchi Crater

Hellas quadrangle map showing two large river valleys that slope left, toward the floor of the crater. Note that the impact crater Hellas is so enormous that this map only displays the eastern side.
Planet Mars
Coordinates 58°18′S 258°06′W / 58.3°S 258.1°W / -58.3; -258.1Coordinates: 58°18′S 258°06′W / 58.3°S 258.1°W / -58.3; -258.1
Diameter 234 km
Eponym Angelo Secchi, an Italian astronomer (1818-1878)

Secchi Crater is a crater in the Hellas quadrangle of Mars, located at 58.3° south latitude and 258.1° west longitude. it is 234 km in diameter and was named after Angelo Secchi, an Italian astronomer (1818–1878).[1]

Dust Devil Tracks

Many areas on Mars experience the passage of giant dust devils. A thin coating of fine bright dust covers most of the Martian surface. When a dust devil goes by it blows away the coating and exposes the underlying dark surface. Dust devils have been seen from the ground and high overhead from orbit. They have even blown the dust off of the solar panels of the two Rovers on Mars, thereby greatly extending their lives.[2] The twin Rovers were designed to last for 3 months, instead they have lasted more than five years and are still going. The pattern of the tracks have been shown to change every few months.[3] The image below of the Secchi Crater Floor, shows a beautiful view of dust devil tracks as seen by HiRISE

References

  1. ↑ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature | Secchi". usgs.gov. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  2. ↑ http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20070412a.html
  3. ↑ http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/KenEdgett.html


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