Moreux (crater)
Moreux is a crater in the Ismenius Lacus quadrangle on Mars with a diameter of 138 kilometers. It is located at 42.1° north latitude and 315.6° west longitude and was named by IAU's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature after Theophile Moreux, a French astronomer and meteorologist (1867–1954).[1]
![]() Viking Orbiter image | |
Planet | Mars |
---|---|
Coordinates | 42.1°N 315.6°W |
Quadrangle | Ismenius Lacus quadrangle |
Diameter | 138 km |
Eponym | Theophile Moreux |
![](../I/Wikilyotmola.jpg.webp)
Ismeniae Fossae are located to the west of Moreux.
Glaciers
Moreux's appearance has been shaped by the action of glaciers. Recent research, using a variety of images from various cameras, discovered extensive glacial modification of the surfaces of the rim, wall, and central peak. These changes were caused by the emplacement of ice-rich material when the climate underwent major changes.[2] The picture from HiRISE below shows possible kettles in Moreux Crater.
- Viking Orbiter 2 mosaic
- Moraines and kettle holes, as seen by HiRISE.
- Western edge of Moreux crater, as seen by CTX (camera), on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Arrows indicate probable glacial moraines. Crater floor is to the right.
- Wide, glacial valleys in Moreux crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program.
- Glacier coming out of valley on the rim, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program.
Impact craters generally have a rim with ejecta around them, in contrast volcanic craters usually do not have a rim or ejecta deposits. As craters get larger (greater than 10 km in diameter) they usually have a central peak.[3] The peak is caused by a rebound of the crater floor following the impact.[4] Sometimes craters expose layers that were buried. Rocks from deep underground are tossed onto the surface. Hence, craters can show us what lies deep under the surface.
Dunes
- Mars Express image of Moreux with its ring of dunes
- Wide view of dunes, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
- Enlarged view of dunes on the bottom of the previous image, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
- Close view of one large dune from the same location, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
- Close view of white spot among the dark dunes showing ripples and streaks
See also
References
- "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature | Moreux". usgs.gov. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- Rishitosh K., S. Sinha, S. Murty. 2015. Amazonian modification of Moreux crater: Record of recent and episodic glaciation in the Protonilus Mensae region of Mars. Icarus 245:122-144.
- http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/slidesets/stones/
- Hugh H. Kieffer (1992). Mars. University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0-8165-1257-7. Retrieved 7 March 2011.