Planet Mars | ||
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Eponym Vasilii G. Fesenkov, a Russian astrophysicist (1889-1972) | ||
Fesenkov Crater is an impact crater in the Lunae Palus quadrangle of Mars. It is located at 21.8° N and 86.7° W. It was named after Vasilii G. Fesenkov, a Russian astrophysicist (1889–1972).
Why are Craters important?
The density of impact craters is used to determine the surface ages of Mars and other solar system bodies. The older the surface, the more craters present. Crater shapes can reveal the presence of ground ice.
The area around craters may be rich in minerals. On Mars, heat from the impact melts ice in the ground. Water from the melting ice dissolves minerals, and then deposits them in cracks or faults that were produced with the impact. This process, called hydrothermal alteration, is a major way in which ore deposits are produced. The area around Martian craters may be rich in useful ores for the future colonization of Mars.