Stickney Crater
Credit: HiRISE, MRO, LPL (U. Arizona), NASA
Posted on 04/10/2008 2:51:08 PM PDT by sig226
Explanation: Stickney Crater, the largest crater on the martian moon Phobos, is named for Chloe Angeline Stickney Hall, mathematician and wife of astronomer Asaph Hall. Asaph Hall discovered both the Red Planet's moons in 1877. Over 9 kilometers across, Stickney is nearly half the diameter of Phobos itself, so large that the impact that blasted out the crater likely came close to shattering the tiny moon. This stunning, enhanced-color image of Stickney and surroundings was recorded by the HiRISE camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter as it passed within some six thousand kilometers of Phobos last month. Even though the surface gravity of asteroid-like Phobos is less than 1/1000th Earth's gravity, streaks suggest loose material has slid down inside the crater walls over time. Light bluish regions near the crater's rim could indicate a relatively freshly exposed surface. The origin of the curious grooves along the surface is mysterious but may be related to the crater-forming impact.
I can just imagine my wife's response if I told her I named a CRATER after her.
I would only do it posthumously.
Oh my....outstanding as usual!!!
8^)
What was the line that the astronomer used while on the phone to NASA in the space movie about the asteroid? Wanting to name it after her and his explanation of why. Way too funny.
Karl: Sir, I’m retired navy, I know all about classified. But one more thing. The person who finds her gets to name her right?
Dan: Yes, yes that’s right, that’s right.
Karl: I wanna name her Dottie after my wife. She’s a vicious life-sucking bitch from which there is no escape.
8^)
Good evening to everyone.
Good evening to you, and a bump for another beautiful, outstanding photo.
thank you.
Good for another bump.
Volley bump!:)
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