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Craters on Mars: Global Geometric Properties from Gridded MOLA TopographyImpact craters serve as natural probes of the target properties of planetary crusts and the tremendous diversity of morphological expressions of such features on Mars attests to their importance for deciphering the history of crustal assembly, modification, and erosion. This paper summarizes the key findings associated with a five year long survey of the three-dimensional properties of approx. 6000 martian impact craters using finely gridded MOLA topography. Previous efforts have treated representative subpopulations, but this effort treats global properties from the largest survey of impact features from the perspective of their topography ever assimilated.

With the Viking missions of the mid-1970 s, the most intensive and comprehensive robotic expeditions to any Deep Space location in the history of humanity were achieved, with scientifically stunning results associated with the morphology of impact craters. The relationships illustrated and suggest that martian impact features are remarkably sensitive to target properties and to the local depositional processes.
Document ID
20030066704
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
J.B. Garvin
(Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland, United States)
S. E. H. Sakimoto
(Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland, United States)
J. J. Frawley
(Science Collaborator Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
July 20, 2003
Publication Information
Publication: Sixth International Conference on Mars
Publisher: Lunar and Planetary Institute
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
3277
Meeting Information
Meeting: Sixth International Conference on Mars
Location: Pasadena, CA
Country: US
Start Date: July 20, 2003
End Date: July 25, 2003
Sponsors: Lunar and Planetary Institute
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC5-679
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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