Orson Welles, as seen by HiRISE. Layered, light-toned rocks seem to be under a dark mantling material. Layers may be sandstone, volcanic ash, or lakebed deposits.
Orson Welles is an impact crater in the Coprates quadrangle of Mars, located at 0.2° S and 45.9° W. It is 124.5 kilometers in diameter and was named after Orson Welles (1915–1985), an American radio and motion picture actor and director. He is famous for, among other things, his radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells in which Martians invade Earth.[1] The layers and the clay minerals found in Orson Welles Crater are evidence that it once contained a lake.
Map of Xanthe Terra showing location of Orson Welles Crater and other major features
Western side of Orson Welles Crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Dark areas on floor are dunes.
Dunes on floor of Orson Welles Crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Small curved channels are also visible. Note: this is an enlargement of previous photo.
See also[]
Impact crater
Impact event
Lakes on Mars
List of craters on Mars
Ore resources on Mars
Planetary nomenclature
References[]
^"Orson Welles (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
0°12′S 45°54′W / 0.2°S 45.9°W / -0.2; -45.9Coordinates: 
Solar System
Solar System