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5. Layered Deposits
5. Layered Deposits

Target material influences the morphology of a crater's ejecta blanket and interior structure, as shown in this image of craters that have impacted into thick deposits near the martian equator. The 37-km-diameter crater near the center of the slide shows typical lobate ejecta superposed with radial ejecta more commonly seen around lunar craters. The crater walls show evidence of more slumping than is characteristic of most craters of this size and probably reflect low target strength. The ease with which the deposits are moved by the wind is suggested by the degraded and shallow appearance of most surrounding craters.

37-km-diameter crater at 2.42° S, 176.98° W; Viking Orbiter frame 635A82

Right click here to download a high-resolution version of the image (2.91 MB)


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