Endeavour (crater)

Endeavour
PlanetMars
RegionMeridiani Planum
Coordinates2°17′S 5°14′W / 2.28°S 5.23°W / -2.28; -5.23
QuadrangleMargaritifer Sinus
Diameter22 kilometers (14 miles)[1]
Depth300 meters (980 feet)[2]
EponymEndeavour, Saskatchewan, Canada (official name)[3]
HM Bark Endeavour (for early informal nickname)[4]
Endeavour as viewed from Mars orbit
The tip of the bottom right of the star is the approximate location of the crater Endeavour on Mars
Opportunity images a Martian whirlwind on the floor of Endeavour (April 2016)

Endeavour is an impact crater located in the Meridiani Planum extraterrestrial plain within the Margaritifer Sinus quadrangle (MC-19) region of the planet Mars. Endeavour is about 22 kilometers (14 mi) in diameter.[1] Using Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter data, phyllosilicate-bearing outcrops have been detected along its rim. These minerals may have formed under wet conditions in a low-acidic environment during the early history of Mars.[5] There are raised rim segments to the north, east, and southwest. The rim has become worn, rounded and degraded, with infilling of plains material in a manner similar to the Victoria crater.[6]

When compared to the surrounding plains, the crater floor shows an enhanced spectral signature of basalt and hematite.[7] The interior contains two groups of dune fields. Images taken since 2008 show evidence of changes in some of the associated formations, which may be evidence of active erosion by the martian wind over a period of two to three years.[6] The plains surrounding the rim show evidence of polyhydrated sulfate.[7]

The Mars Exploration Rover-B Opportunity began travelling toward this crater in August 2008,[1] with the rim coming into sight on March 7, 2009,[8] and arriving at the edge on August 9, 2011.[9]

Endeavour averages about 200 to 300 metres (660 to 980 ft) deep, with an area in its southeast that goes down to 500 metres (1,600 ft) deep, according to a publication called Degradation of Endeavour Crater, Mars by the Smithsonian Institution.[10] The south-west depression goes down to an elevation of −1,980 metres (−6,500 ft), the horse-shoe shaped depression sits in the south-east quadrant and is around minus −1,800 to −1,900 metres (−5,900 to −6,200 ft) elevation, which is about 400 metres (1,300 ft) below the surrounding plains.[10] It is noted that the crater has undergone various erosion processes, with wind being one cause.[10]

  1. ^ a b c "NASA'S Mars Rover to Head Toward Bigger Crater". NASA/JPL. 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
  2. ^ "Road Trip Gets Under Way". NASA/JPL. 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gazetteer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Embarks on New Endeavour, Spirit Gets Back To Normal Schedule | The Planetary Society". planetary.org. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  5. ^ Wray, J. J.; et al. (November 2009), "Phyllosilicates and sulfates at Endeavour Crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars", Geophysical Research Letters, 36 (21): L21201, Bibcode:2009GeoRL..3621201W, doi:10.1029/2009GL040734{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b Chojnacki, M.; Burr, D. M.; Moersch, J. (March 2010), "Recent Dune Changes at Endeavour Crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars, from Orbital Observations", 41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, held March 1–5, 2010, The Woodlands, Texas, p. 2326, Bibcode:2010LPI....41.2326C{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^ a b Chojnacki, M.; Moersch, J.; Wray, J. J.; Burr, D. M. (March 2010), "The Stratigraphy, Composition and Thermophysical Properties of Endeavour Crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars, from Orbital Remote Sensing", 41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, held March 1–5, 2010, The Woodlands, Texas, p. 2175, Bibcode:2010LPI....41.2175C{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference NASA20090318PressRelease was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference StatusUpdate2680 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference hou.usra.edu was invoked but never defined (see the help page).