Lab07 Martian craters

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CUNY York College *

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141

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Astronomy

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Dec 6, 2023

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Lab 7: Martian Craters Astronomy 141 Name: ______________________________ Date: ________ Partner(s):___________________________ ___________________________ In this exercise you will work as a class to address the following questions:  Which are the major Martian surface features?  How do we estimate their ages?  How can we understand some of their history and nature? Maps of Mars We will use 2 maps of Mars centered around the equator and North Pole of Mars. The maps are color coded for elevation : blue means low , red and white mean high . These maps are also accessible online at the sites below. Region Map URL Equatorial: https://attic.gsfc.nasa.gov/mola/images/mercat.jpg North Pole: https://tharsis.gsfc.nasa.gov/Mars_topography_from_MOLA_v3/lores_grids/NorthPolar.html Alternate: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12jK17U55xm7lipSQdG-2GjITjrLSJXAo/view?usp=sharing

Crater Counts 1. (10 points) Find a single grid square at the center of each of the following features. Record the central latitude and longitude of your square and count the number of craters there. Surface Feature Central Latitude Central Longitude No. of craters The tall volcanoes in the Tharsis region The huge, deep Hellas impact basin in the south The gigantic Valles Marineris canyon The icy North polar cap For the next section of the lab, you will be working with your classmates to examine the entire surface of Mars and look for patterns. Your instructor will compile a big table that you and your classmates will work together to complete. 2. (10 points) Pick at least four delineated portions on the maps to identify and count craters. a. Before you start work on a new portion, check your instructor’s big table to avoid repeating another group’s data. b. For each portion you examine, enter the latitude range , longitude range , and crater counts in the table below. c. After each row you complete in the table below, report your data to the instructor to update the big table. Latitude Range Longitude Range Counts

3. (5 points) Once the big table for the whole class is complete, enter the crater counts from all groups into your table on the next page. 4. (5 points) Estimate the average number of craters at each latitude and calculate the relative crater density by multiplying your crater count by the given factor. You may choose to ignore certain unusual regions in a particular latitude range Please answer all questions on a separate sheet. 5. (5 points) Is there a noticeable difference in the crater density from North to South on Mars? Please describe. 6. (5 points) Describe a rough area. Does it have few or many craters? Is it at high (red/white) or low (blue) elevations? Is it in the southern or northern hemisphere? 7. (5 points) Identify a smooth region in the same way you did above. 8. (5 points) Do the regions you identified in the table in #1 have many or few craters? Please explain why or why not keeping in mind the geology of these features. 9. (5 points) Based on your crater data , do you think the meteorite that created the Hellas impact basin hit early or late in Mars’ bombardment period? Please explain. 10. (5 points) Many astronomers think Mars may have had an ocean in its past. Where do you think that ocean would have been and why? Explain your answer based on crater density , surface roughness and the thickness/height of the crust (continents are where the crust is thick and high, oceans are where the crust is thin and low).

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Latitude range All crater counts Average* × factor Crater density 85/90 0.127 80/85 0.128 75/80 0.130 70/75 0.134 60/70 0.633 50/60 0.700 40/50 0.811 30/40 1.000 20/30 1.357 10/20 2.217 0/10 6.582 0/-10 6.582 -10/-20 2.217 -20/-30 1.357 -30/-40 1.000 -40/-50 0.811 -50/-60 0.700 -60/-70 0.633 -70/-75 0.134 -75/-80 0.130 -80/-85 0.128 -85/-90 0.127 * You may choose to omit certain unusual counts (like those over volcanoes etc.).

Lab07 Martian craters

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