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Schiaparelli (Martian crater)

This article is about the crater on Mars. For the crater on the Moon, see Schiaparelli (lunar crater).

Schiaparelli (/ˌskæpəˈrɛli, ˌʃæp-/ SKAP-ə-REL-ee, SHAP-,[1][2] US also /skiˌɑːp-/ skee-AHP-,[2][3] Italian: [skjapaˈrɛlli]) is an impact crater on Mars, located near the planet's equator at latitude 3° south and longitude 344° in the Sinus Sabaeus quadrangle. It measures approximately 459 kilometers (285-miles) in diameter and was named after Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli, known for his observations of the Red Planet and his mistranslated term "canali". The name was adopted by IAU's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature in 1973.[4]

Schiaparelli
Elevation map of the Martian crater Schiaparelli, as seen by Mars Global Surveyor
PlanetMars
Coordinates2°42′S 16°42′E / 2.7°S 16.7°E / -2.7; 16.7
QuadrangleSinus Sabaeus
Diameter458.52 km
EponymGiovanni Schiaparelli

Description

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A crater within Schiaparelli shows many layers that may have formed by the wind, volcanoes, or deposition under water.

Layers can be a few meters thick or tens of meters thick. Recent research on these layers suggests that ancient climate change on Mars, caused by regular variation in the planet's tilt, may have caused the patterns in layers. On Earth, similar changes (astronomical forcing) of climate results in ice-age cycles and formation of rhythmites.

The regular appearance of rock layers suggests that regular changes in climate may be the root cause. Regular changes in climate may be due to variations of a planet's tilt (called obliquity). The tilt of the Earth's axis changes by only a little more than 2 degrees since the Moon is relatively large. In contrast Mars's tilt varies by tens of degrees. When the tilt is low (current situation on Mars), the poles are the coldest places on the planet, while the equator is the warmest (as on Earth). This could cause gases in the atmosphere, like water and carbon dioxide, to migrate poleward, where they would freeze. When the obliquity is higher, the poles receive more sunlight, causing those materials to migrate away. When carbon dioxide moves from the Martian poles, the atmospheric pressure increases, possibly causing a difference in the ability of winds to transport and deposit sand. Also, with more water in the atmosphere sand grains may stick and cement together to form layers.[5]

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    Layers in a crater inside the Schiaparelli basin as seen by MGS.
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    Layers in a crater inside the Schiaparelli basin, as seen by HiRISE.
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    Circular structures on floor of Schiaparelli basin, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program.
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    Close-up of circular structure from previous image. Streaks are also visible.
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    Layers within a crater located in north-western Schiaparelli basin.
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    The Martian (2015 film)
    Ares IV Mission - Landing Site
    (SW corner of Schiaparelli crater).
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    Wide view of layers in Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE). Part of the picture is degraded. Parts of this image are enlarged in other images that follow.
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    Layered mound in Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE)
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    Layers in Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE)
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    Layered mound in Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE)
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    Layers in Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE)
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    Layers in Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE)
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    Layers in Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE)
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    Close view of layers in Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE). Dark sand is visible on some layers.
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    Close, color view of layers in Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE). Dark sand is visible on some layers.
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    Wide view of layers and rough terrain in northwestern Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE)
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    Close view of layers and rough terrain in northwestern Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE)
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    Close view of rough terrain and small pits in northwestern Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE)
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    Close view of rough terrain in northwestern Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE)
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    lose view of rough terrain in northwestern Schiaparelli crater (HiRISE)

Location on Mars

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The Martian crater Schiaparelli is in the center of this 1980 mosaic from the Viking orbiter.
The surroundings of the Schiaparelli crater.
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In the 2011 novel The Martian by Andy Weir, and the 2015 feature film adapted from it, Schiaparelli is the landing site for Ares 4, the fourth crewed mission to Mars. The protagonist, Mark Watney, an astronaut from Ares 3 who is stranded on Mars, must travel from Acidalia Planitia to Schiaparelli, a journey of 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi).[6]

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schiaparelli (Martian crater).
  1. ^ "Schiaparelli, Giovanni Virginio". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.[dead link‍]
  2. ^ a b "Schiaparelli". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Schiaparelli". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature – Schiaparelli". usgs.gov. Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature – International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ Weir, Andy (2014). The Martian. New York: Crown Publishers. ISBN 978-0-8041-3902-1.
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