Rayleigh (Martian crater)

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This article is about the crater on Mars. For the lunar crater, see Rayleigh (lunar crater).
Rayleigh
Wikirayleighlayers.jpg
PlanetMars
Coordinates75°36′S 240°54′W / 75.6°S 240.9°W / -75.6; -240.9 (Rayleigh)Coordinates: 75°36′S 240°54′W / 75.6°S 240.9°W / -75.6; -240.9 (Rayleigh)
QuadrangleMare Australe
Diameter125.66 km
EponymLord Rayleigh

Rayleigh is an impact crater in the Mare Australe quadrangle of Mars, located at 75.6°S latitude and 240.9°W longitude. It measures approximately 126 kilometers in diameter and was named after English physicist Lord Rayleigh. The name was approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature in 1973.[1]

The pictures show layered features. These features may have resulted from the erosion of layers of mantle.

  • Crater Rayleigh, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter).

  • Layers in Rayleigh crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Note: this is an enlargement of the previous image of Rayleigh crater.

See also[]

  • 22740 Rayleigh, asteroid
  • Climate of Mars
  • Geology of Mars
  • Impact event
  • List of craters on Mars
  • Ore resources on Mars
  • Planetary nomenclature
  • Water on Mars

References[]

  1. ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature | Rayleigh". usgs.gov. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
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