Hargraves (crater)

Hargraves
Viking Orbiter 1 image with Hargraves as the largest crater at center-right
PlanetMars
RegionSyrtis Major quadrangle
Nili Fossae
Greater Isidis region
Coordinates20°44′N 75°44′E / 20.74°N 75.74°E / 20.74; 75.74
QuadrangleSyrtis Major
Diameter60.28 km[1]
69 km[2]
Central Hargraves crater from MRO CTX camera, showing the dune field on the west side of the crater, and the central peak complex at right

Hargraves is a Hesperian-age complex double-layered ejecta impact crater on Mars. It was emplaced near the crustal dichotomy in the vicinity of the Nili Fossae, the Syrtis Major volcanic plains, and the Isidis impact basin, and is situated within the Syrtis Major quadrangle. Hargraves has been the target of focused study because its ejecta apron is particularly well-preserved for a Martian crater of its size. It has been analogized to similar double-layered ejecta blankets on Earth, including that of the Ries impact structure, which was where the conceptual model for how such craters formed was first advanced.

The presence of Hargraves ejecta in a trough of the Nili Fossae to its west, contributed to a consideration of the Nili Fossae as a possible candidate landing site for NASA's Perseverance rover. The presence of certain minerals (phyllosilicates, serpentine, and magnesite) detected remotely in Hargraves ejecta imply aqueous alteration either at the time of the Hargraves impact or by virtue of a hydrothermal system active after impact.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference IAU was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference sacks2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).