Bernard_(crater)
Bernard (crater)
Crater on Mars
Bernard is a large crater in the Memnonia quadrangle of Mars, located at 23.4° south latitude and 154.2° west longitude. It is 128 km in diameter and was named after P. Bernard, a French atmospheric scientist.[1] The floor of the crater contains large cracks, which may be due to erosion.
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.[2] The peak is caused by a rebound of the crater floor following the impact.[3] If one measures the diameter of a crater, the original depth can be estimated with various ratios. Because of this relationship, researchers have found that many Martian craters contain a great deal of material; much of it is believed to be ice deposited when the climate was different.[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.
- Map showing the relative positions of Bernard Crater and other nearby craters in Memnonia quadrangle
- West side of Bernard Crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter).
- Close-up of part of floor of Bernard Crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter).
- Close-up of part of floor of Bernard Crater showing troughs and dust devil tracks, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter).
- Bernard Crater Floor, as seen by HiRISE. Large cracks are visible on floor.
- Troughs on the floor of Bernard Crater showing many boulders, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
- Troughs on the floor of Bernard Crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program