Astronomy Picture of the Day
January 2, 2016

Craters in Ophir Chasma
Craters in Ophir Chasma


In this simply beautiful VIS image, taken by the NASA - Mars Odyssey Orbiter on December, 27th, 2005, and during its 17.901st orbit around the Red Planet, we can see a small portion of the Martian Region known as Ophir Chasma (which is nothing else but a deep Canyon located in the Coprates Quadrangle of Mars, and centered at about South Latitude and 72,5° West Longitude). Ophir Chasma is approx. 317 km long and it was so named after a so-called "Classical Albedo Feature".

A couple of medium-sized and Unnamed Impact Craters (the bigger one, with a hint of Terracing on its Northern and Southern Slopes) with Pedestal dominate the scene. Just above them, you can see a so-called Pseudo Craters' Chain, such as as a series of (relatively) small Impact Craters which appear to be connected (like it happens when the Impactor breakes-up in the Atmosphere and then its pieces fall on the Ground one after the other, following a line) but, in fact, they are not.

Now, would you be able to say why we, as IPF, called this series of Craters as "Pseudo Chain"? Look at them carefully and, afterwards, write us, if you wish, at .

Latitude (centered): 9,97494° South
Longitude (centered): 303,27800° East
Instrument: VIS


News visualized: 561 times

©2011-2014 - Powered by - All rights reserved