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Gale (crater)

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Template:MarsGeo-Crater

Gale is a crater on Mars, near the border of the lowlands of Elysium Planitia at 5°24′S 137°48′E / 5.4°S 137.8°E / -5.4; 137.8.[1] It is 154 km in diameter[2] and believed to be about 3.5 to 3.8 billion years old.[3] The crater was named after Walter Frederick Gale, an amateur astronomer who observed Mars in the late 19th century and described the presence of canals.[4]

Characteristics

An unusual feature of Gale is an enormous mound of debris around its central peak, rising 5.5 km above the northern crater floor and 4.5 km above the southern crater floor - slightly taller than the southern rim of the crater itself. The mound is composed of layered material and may have been laid down over a period of around 2 billion years.[3] The origin of this mound is not known with certainty, but research suggests it is the eroded remnant of sedimentary layers that once filled the crater completely, possibly originally deposited on a lakebed.[3] However, there is debate around this issue.[5][6] Observations of possible cross-bedded strata on the upper mound suggest Aeolian processes, but the origin of the lower mound layers remains ambiguous.[7]

Gale crater is located at about 5.4S, 137.7E on Mars,[8] Spirit rover (MER-A) is at 14.57S, 175.47E.[9] Viking 2 lander is at 47.93N, 133.74E.[9]

Spacecraft exploration

Numerous channels eroded into the flanks of the crater's central mound could give access to the layers for study.[3] Gale will be the primary landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory[10] which was launched 26 November 2011 and will land on Mars at Gale Crater on 6 August 2012.[11][12][13][14] Gale was previously a candidate landing site for the 2003 Mars Exploration Rover mission, and is one of four prospective sites for ESA's ExoMars.[15]

Images

  • Graphic depicting key features of the MSL landing site at Gale Crater, and a potential traverse.
    Graphic depicting key features of the MSL landing site at Gale Crater, and a potential traverse.
  • Gale Crater-Colorized composite of MOC wide angle and MGS laser altimeter data. Credit NASA/JPL.MSSS
    Gale Crater-Colorized composite of MOC wide angle and MGS laser altimeter data. Credit NASA/JPL.MSSS
  • The high mound in Gale crater was probably formed from erosion of layers that covered the whole area, as shown in here.
    The high mound in Gale crater was probably formed from erosion of layers that covered the whole area, as shown in here.
  • Layers in Gale Crater as seen by HiRISE. Layers may have formed by deposition in a lake, or by deposition of windblown particles.
    Layers in Gale Crater as seen by HiRISE. Layers may have formed by deposition in a lake, or by deposition of windblown particles.
  • Gale Crater Grand Canyon, as seen by HiRISE. Scale bar is 500 meters long.
    Gale Crater Grand Canyon, as seen by HiRISE. Scale bar is 500 meters long.
  • Map of Aeolis quadrangle. Gale Crater is in the upper left on the map. A large pile of layered rocks sits in the middle of Gale Crater.
    Map of Aeolis quadrangle. Gale Crater is in the upper left on the map. A large pile of layered rocks sits in the middle of Gale Crater.
  • Computer-generated image depicting part of Mars at the boundary between darkness and daylight, with an area including Gale Crater, beginning to catch morning light.
    Computer-generated image depicting part of Mars at the boundary between darkness and daylight, with an area including Gale Crater, beginning to catch morning light.

References

  1. ^ USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/nomenclature/Feature/2071.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference nasanews was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d Mars Odyssey Mission THEMIS: Feature Image: Gale Crater's History Book
  4. ^ Biography - Walter Frederick Gale - Australian Dictionary of Biography
  5. ^ Cabrol et al. 1999. Hydrogeologic evolution of Gale Crater and its relevance in the exobiological exploration of Mars. Icarus: 139. 235-245.
  6. ^ Irwin et al. 2005. An intense terminal epoch of widespread fluvial activity on early Mars: 2. Increased runoff and palelake development. Journal of Geographical Research: 110. E12S15
  7. ^ Anderson and Bell, Geologic mapping and characterization of Gale Crater and implications for its potential as a Mars Science Laboratory landing site, Mars 5, 76-128, 2010, doi:10.1555/mars.2010.0004
  8. ^ Google Mars: Gale crater
  9. ^ a b Google Mars: spacecraft
  10. ^ The Associated Press (26 November 2011). "NASA Launches Sophisticated Rover on Journey to Mars". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 November 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Geometry Drives Selection Date for 2011 Mars Launch". News and Features. NASA/JPL-Caltech.
  12. ^ Webster, Guy; Brown, Dwayne (22 July 2011). "NASA's Next Mars Rover To Land At Gale Crater". NASA JPL. Retrieved 2011-07-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Chow, Dennis (22 July 2011). "NASA's Next Mars Rover to Land at Huge Gale Crater". Space.com. Retrieved 2011-07-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Amos, Jonathan (22 July 2011). "Mars rover aims for deep crater". BBC News. Retrieved 2011-07-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Mars landing sites down to final four - Worldnews.com

See Also

Media related to Gale Crater at Wikimedia Commons

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