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Ceres has an axial tilt of 4°, [10] small enough for its polar regions to contain permanently shadowed craters that are expected to act as cold traps and accumulate water ice over time, similar to what occurs on the Moon and Mercury. About 0.14% of water molecules released from the surface are expected to end up in the traps, hopping an ...
This difference results from the 2.5 times higher gravitational field on Mercury compared with the Moon. [6] As on the Moon, impact craters on Mercury are progressively degraded by subsequent impacts. [4] [7] The freshest craters have ray systems and a crisp morphology. With further degradation, the craters lose their crisp morphology and rays ...
Following are the largest impact craters on various worlds of the Solar System. For a full list of named craters, see List of craters in the Solar System. The ratio column compares the crater diameter with the diameter of the impacted celestial body. The maximum crater diameter is 157% of the body diameter (the circumference along a great circle).
Ceres is saturated with impact craters.Many have a central pit or bright spot. In the first batch of 17 names approved by the IAU, craters north of 20° north latitude had names beginning with A–G (with Asari being the furthest north), those between 20° north and south latitude beginning with H–R, and those further south beginning with S–Z (with Zadeni being the furthest south).
Almost 200 km (120 mi) wide. See also: List of largest craters in the Solar System: Ceres: Ahuna Mons: 4 km (2.5 mi) [38] 0.85: cryovolcanic [39] Isolated steep-sided dome in relatively smooth area; max. height of ~ 5 km on steepest side; roughly antipodal to largest impact basin on Ceres: Io: Boösaule Montes "South" [40] 17.5 to 18.2 km (10.9 ...
Ceres has spectral similarities to C-type asteroids, [3] which are rich in volatiles and carbonaceous compounds. Ceres is also sometimes classified as a G-type asteroid, [11] [12] which is a subtype of the Tholen C-class and characterized by abundant phyllosilicates, such as clay minerals. Ceres is not associated with any asteroid family or ...
Scientists have detected ice on the planet's surface, which could mean Ceres is hiding an ocean below its frozen crust. Dwarf planet Ceres may have a huge ocean that could support life Skip to ...
The Moon's Erlanger crater is an example of a permanently shadowed crater. A permanently shadowed crater is a depression on a body in the Solar System within which lies a point that is always in darkness. [1] [2] As of 2019, there are 324 known permanently shadowed regions on the Moon. [3] Such regions also exist on Mercury [4] and Ceres. [5]