Credit: NASA/JPL/University of ArizonaSince its formation, the crater has had its southern half cut away by the formation of the gorge, called Ganges Chasma. The resulting exposure of rocks along the rim of the cliff allows planetary geologists to study a cut-away, side-view of layered rocks. This view is particularly interesting here because the rock layers of the upper plains are visible in their original form outside of the crater, and in modified form within/beneath the crater, along with structures imparted by the impact.
The floor of the crater may have been filled by lavas or other material that is more resistant to erosion than the surrounding layers, since the floor of the crater sticks out into the chasma.
OBSERVATION TOOLBOX
Acquisition date: 02 October 2007 Local Mars time: 2:15 PM
Latitude (centered): -7.6 ° Longitude (East): 318.6 °
Range to target site: 263.8 km (164.9 miles)
Original image scale range: 26.4 cm/pixel
(with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~79 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 25 cm/pixel and north is up
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission angle: 2.6 ° Phase angle: 31.3 °
Solar incidence angle: 34 °, with the Sun about 56 ° above the horizon Solar longitude: 323.9 °, Northern Winter
For non-map projected products:
North azimuth: 97 ° Sub-solar azimuth: 350.4 °
For map projected products:
Acquisition date: 02 October 2007 Local Mars time: 2:15 PM
Latitude (centered): -7.6 ° Longitude (East): 318.6 °
Range to target site: 263.8 km (164.9 miles)
Original image scale range: 26.4 cm/pixel
(with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~79 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 25 cm/pixel and north is up
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission angle: 2.6 ° Phase angle: 31.3 °
Solar incidence angle: 34 °, with the Sun about 56 ° above the horizon Solar longitude: 323.9 °, Northern Winter
For non-map projected products:
North azimuth: 97 ° Sub-solar azimuth: 350.4 °
For map projected products:
North azimuth: 270° Sub solar azimuth 165.263°
