Impact may explain differences in Martian hemispheres
Posted: Fri, Jun 27, 2008, 7:21 AM ET (1121 GMT)
The large differences in terrain between the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars can be explained by a giant impact that took place on the Red Planet early in its history, scientists reported this week. The Martian southern hemisphere is primarily composed of rough, heavily cratered terrain, while the northern hemisphere is much lower and smoother, and may have once hosted an ocean of liquid water. In a set of papers published in Nature, scientists reported that this northern basin is most likely the remnant of a crater created when a giant object, between 1,600 and 2,700 kilometers across, collided with the planet at least 3.9 billion years ago. An impact model for the creation of the basin was first proposed many years ago, but discounted because the basin is elliptical, not circular, in shape. Better topographic data from orbiting spacecraft, as well as improved computer models of impacts, led scientists to reconsider the impact model.
The large differences in terrain between the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars can be explained by a giant impact that took place on the Red Planet early in its history, scientists reported this week. The Martian southern hemisphere is primarily composed of rough, heavily cratered terrain, while the northern hemisphere is much lower and smoother, and may have once hosted an ocean of liquid water. In a set of papers published in Nature, scientists reported that this northern basin is most likely the remnant of a crater created when a giant object, between 1,600 and 2,700 kilometers across, collided with the planet at least 3.9 billion years ago. An impact model for the creation of the basin was first proposed many years ago, but discounted because the basin is elliptical, not circular, in shape. Better topographic data from orbiting spacecraft, as well as improved computer models of impacts, led scientists to reconsider the impact model.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Roscosmos replaces cosmonaut on next Crew Dragon mission to ISS
Posted: Sat, Dec 6 9:45 AM ET (1445 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, December 8
Reach for the stars: Astronaut urges Poland to build plan for space tech hub
TVP World — 5:00 am ET (1000 GMT) Government invests €265.1m for space programmes
Delano — 5:00 am ET (1000 GMT) ROSE-L given the shakes
ESA — 4:59 am ET (0959 GMT) Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ czar says he held talks with 300 companies on secret missile defense shield
Washington Times — 4:57 am ET (0957 GMT) Golden Dome Details Begin to Emerge
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 4:57 am ET (0957 GMT) |
