The Red Planet’s Ada Crater Lies in Meridiani Planum

Summary: The Red Planet’s Ada Crater lies in Meridiani Planum, a plain located in the equatorial latitudes of the Martian northern and southern hemispheres.

Detail of Margaritifer Sinus (Mars Chart 19; MC-19) quadrangle shows Ada Crater and neighbors Iazu Crater, Pebas Crater and Zarand Crater as Meridiani Planum occupants: U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Team, Public Domain, via Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

The Red Planet’s Ada Crater lies in Meridiani Planum, a dark plain occupying the equatorial latitudes of the Martian northern and southern hemispheres.

Ada Crater is a Martian lunar impact crater residing in the Red Planet’s southern hemisphere. Ada exposes dark-toned bedrock on its inner edge and light-toned bedrock toward its outer edge, according to an image obtained by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera between July 8 and July 31, 2010. Ada Crater’s two bedrock layers create a “. . . nested appearance” (4.1.23), according to the description by planetary geologist Matt Golombek and six co-authors in their paper, “Constraints on Ripple Migration at Meridiani Planum From Opportunity and HiRISE Observations of Fresh Craters,” published in the July 2010 issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.

Ada Crater is centered at minus 3.06 degrees south latitude, 356.78 degrees east longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The southern hemisphere impact crater confines its northernmost and southernmost latitudes to minus 3.04 degrees south and minus 3.08 degrees south, respectively. It narrows its easternmost and westernmost longitudes to 356.79 degrees east and 356.76 degrees east, respectively. Ada Crater has a diameter of 2.09 kilometers.

Ada Crater parents secondary craters, according to the Golombek team’s findings. HiRISE images reveal secondary craters and fresh herringbone-patterned ejecta at a distance of 8 kilometers north and south of their parent. Superposition of Ada’s secondary craters on the rippled surface of Meridiani Planum occurs at distances of 6 kilometers south-southwest and 32 kilometers south of the parent crater.

Meridiani Planum occupies the northern edge of the Martian southern highlands, according to the European Space Agency (ESA) website. The Golombek team situate the low-lying plain within the Martian western hemisphere’s densely cratered highlands.

Meridiani Planum is centered at minus 0.04 degrees south latitude, 356.86 degrees east longitude. The equatorial plain obtains its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 8.78 degrees north and minus 4 degrees south, respectively. The plain’s easternmost and westernmost longitudes occur at 7 degrees east and 349.1 degrees east, respectively. At its longest extent, Meridiani Planum stretches for 1,058.53 kilometers.

Iazu Crater and Pebas Crater occur as northern, named neighbors of Ada Crater on Meridiani Planum. Iazu Crater resides to the northwest of Ada Crater. Pebas lies to the northeast of Ada Crater.

Iazu Crater is centered at minus 2.71 degrees south latitude, 354.82 degrees east longitude. The southern hemisphere crater limits its northernmost and southernmost latitudes to minus 2.65 degrees south and minus 2.76 degrees south, respectively. It restrics its easternmost and westernmost longitudes to 354.88 degrees east and 354.77 degrees east, respectively. Iazu Crater’s diameter measures 6.83 kilometers.

Pebas Crater is centered at minus 2.6 degrees south latitude, 359.04 degrees east longitude. The southern hemisphere crater establishes its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 2.55 degrees south and minus 2.64 degrees south, respectively. It posts easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 359.09 degrees east and 358.99 degrees east, respectively. Pebas Crater has a diameter of 5.43 kilometers.

Zarand Crater occurs as a southern, named neighbor of Ada Crater on Meridiani Planum. Zarand is located to the southeast of Ada Crater.

Zarand Crater is centered at minus 3.41 degrees south latitude, 358.5 degrees east longitude. The Meridiani Planum crater finds its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 3.39 degrees south and minus 3.44 degrees south, respectively. The western hemisphere crater marks its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 358.53 degrees east and 358.48 degrees east, respectively. Zarand Crater’s diameter measures 2.78 kilometers.

Ada Crater appears on one of the 30 cartographic quadrangle maps of the Martian surface published by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Astrogeology Science Program. Numbered as Mars Chart 19 (MC-19) in the series, the Margaritifer Sinus quadrangle covers 0 to 30 degrees south latitude and 0 to 45 degrees west longitude.

Ada Crater honors the town of Ada, Oklahoma. Ada is the county seat of south central Oklahoma’s Pontotoc County. The International Astronomical Union approved Ada as the Martian impact crater’s official name on Sept. 14, 2006.

The takeaways for Ada Crater’s occupancy of the Red Planet’s Meridiani Planum are that the Martian impact crater parents a number of unnamed secondary craters; that Ada Crater appears on one of the 30 cartographic quadrangles created by the U.S. Geological Survey; that Zarand Crater neighbors to the southeast of Ada Crater; and that Ada Crater’s northern, named neighbors on Meridiani Planum include Iazu Crater and Pebas Crater.

Detail of image obtained Nov. 9, 2006, by HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) image of Ada Crater reveals the youthful crater and its fresh ejecta; NASA ID PIA09372; image addition date 2006-11-29; image credit NASA / JPL / Univ. of Arizona: May be used for any purpose without prior permission, via NASA JPL Photojournal

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Detail of Margaritifer Sinus (Mars Chart 19; MC-19) quadrangle shows Ada Crater and neighbors Iazu Crater, Pebas Crater and Zarand Crater as Meridiani Planum occupants: U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Team, Public Domain, via Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/mc19_2014.pdf

Detail of image obtained Nov. 9, 2006, by HiRISE ((High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) image of Ada Crater reveals the youthful crater and its fresh ejecta; NASA ID PIA09372; image addition date 2006-11-29; image credit NASA / JPL / Univ. of Arizona: May be used for any purpose without prior permission, via NASA JPL Photojournal @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA09372

For further information:

Arvidson, R.E.; J.F. Bell III; J.G. Catalano; B.C. Clark; V.K. Fox; R. Gellert; J.P. Grotzinger; E.A. Guinness; K.E. Herkenhoff; A.H. Knoll; M.G.A. Lapotre; S.M. McLennan; D.W. Ming; R.V. Morris; S.L. Murchie; K.E. Powell; M.D. Smith; S.W. Squyres; M.J. Wolff; and J.J. Wray. “Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Opportunity Observations of the Burns Formation: Crater Hopping at Meridiani Planum.” JGR Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, vol. 120, issue 3 (March 2015): 429-451.
Available via AGU Pubs @ https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2014JE004686

Coles, Kenneth S.; Kenneth L. Tanaka; and Philip R. Christensen. The Atlas of Mars: Mappings Its Geography and Geology. Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press, 2019.

Golombek, M.; K. Robinson; A. McEwen; N. Bridges; B. Ivanov; L. Tornabene; and R. Sullivan. “Constraints on Ripple Migration at Meridiani Planum From Opportunity and HiRISE Observations of Fresh Craters.” JGR Journal of Geophysical Research Planets, vol. 115, issue E7 (July 2010): E00F08.
Available via AGU Pubs @ https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2010JE003628

Grego, Peter. Mars and How to Observe It. Astronomers’ Observing Guides. New York NY: Springer Science+Business Media, 2012.

Grossman, Lisa. “Exotic New Mars Images From Orbiting Telephoto Studio.” Science, Sept. 2, 2010.
Available via WIRED @ https://www.wired.com/2010/09/new-mars-image-gallery/

HiRISE. “Pebas Crater With Asymmetric Flow-Ejecta in Eastern Meridiani Planum ESP_014389_1775.” High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment HiRISE Operations Center. Acquisition Date Aug. 21, 2009.
Available @ https://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_014389_1775

HiRISE. “Pebas Crater With Asymmetric Flow-Ejecta in Eastern Meridiani Planum ESP_020692_1775.” High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment HiRISE Operations Center. Acquisition Date Aug. 21, 2009.
Available @ https://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_020692_1775

Hynek, Brian M.; and Gaetano Di Achille. “Geologic Map of Meridiani Planum, Mars.” Scientific investigations Map 3356. Prepared in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Reston VA: U.S. Geological Survey, 2017.
Available via USGS Publications Warehouse @ https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sim3356

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Ada.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mars. Last updated Nov. 17, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14182

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Iazu.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mars. Last updated Nov. 17, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14193

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Pebas.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mars. Last updated Nov. 17, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14202

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Meridiani Planum.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mars. Last updated June 7, 2018.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3854

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Sinus Meridiani.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mars. Last updated Oct. 1, 2006.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5568

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “[Terra Meridiani].” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mars. Last updated March 1, 2007.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/6912

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Mars System.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mars.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/MARS/system

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Target: Mars.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mars.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/MARS/target

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Zarand.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mars. Last updated Nov. 17, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14212

Lavoie, Sue, site mgr. “PIA09372: Ada Crater: Youthful and Enigmatic.” NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Photojournal > Catalog. Image addition date: 2006-11-29.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA09372

Marriner, Derdriu. “Airy Crater Honors British Astronomer Sir George Biddell Airy.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, July 24, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/07/airy-crater-honors-british-astronomer.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “The Red Planet’s Airy Crater Lies in Meridiani Planum.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-red-planets-airy-crater-lies-in.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “The Red Planet’s Gill Crater Lies in Ancient Arabia Terra.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, June 19, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-red-planets-gill-crater-lies-in.html

McEwen, Alfred. “Stereo Anagylphs of Ada Crater PSP_001678_1770.” High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment HiRISE Operations Center. Jan. 10, 2007.
Available @ https://www.uahirise.org/PSP_001678_1770

Mitchell, Alison. “Meridiani Planum and the Search for Ice on Mars.” Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum > Newsroom > Press Releases. Sept. 25, 2017.
Available @ https://airandspace.si.edu/newsroom/press-releases/meridiani-planum-and-search-ice-mars

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “Stereo Anaglyphs of Ada Crater.” NASA JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) > Images. Jan. 10, 2007.
Available @ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA09557

Newsom, Horton E.; C.A. Barber; T.M. Hare; R.T. Schelble; V.A. Sutherland; and W.C. Feldman. “Peleolakes and Impact Basins in Southern Arabia Terra, Including Meridiani Planum: Implications for the Formation of Hematite Deposits on Mars.” Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets, vol. 108, issue E12 (November 2003).
Available via ResearchGate @ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233796198_Paleolakes_and_impact_basins_in_southern_Arabia_Terra_including_Meridiani_Planum_Implications_for_the_formation_of_hematite_deposits_on_Mars

Squyres, S.W. (Steven Weldon); and A.H. (Andrew Herbert) Knoll, eds. Sedimentary Geology at Meridiani Planum, Mars. First edition. Reprinted from Earth and Planetary Science Letters 240/1. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier, 2005.

Squyres, Steven W. (Weldon); and Andrew H. (Herbert) Knoll, eds. Sedimentary Geology at Meridiani Planum, Mars. First edition. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 240, issue 1 (Nov. 30, 2005): 1-190.
Available via ScienceDirect @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/earth-and-planetary-science-letters/vol/240/issue/1

Watters, Thomas R.; Carl J. Leuschen; Bruce A. Campbell; Gareth A. Morgan; Andrea Cicchetti; John A. Grant; Roger J. Phillips; and Jeffrey J. Plaut. “Radar Sounder Evidence of Thick Porous Sediments in Meridiani Planum and Implications for Ice-Filled Deposits on Mars.” Geophysical Research Letter, vol. 44, issue 18 (Sept. 28, 2017): 9208-9215.
Available via AGU Pubs @ https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2017GL074431