Newton (Martian crater)

Martian crater Newton
Topographic map of Newton crater
PlanetMars
Coordinates40°48′S 201°54′E / 40.8°S 201.9°E / -40.8; 201.9
QuadranglePhaethontis
Diameter298 km
EponymIsaac Newton
Viking Orbiter mosaic of most of Newton. Oblique view looking southwest.

Newton is a large crater on Mars, with a diameter close to 300 km. It is located south of the planet's equator in the heavily cratered highlands of Terra Sirenum in the Phaethontis quadrangle. The crater was named in 1973 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN) in honor of British physicist Sir Isaac Newton.[1]

Three smaller craters within Newton have been named. Avire is to the west of the central peak. Palikir and Dechu are to the southeast of the central peak.

  1. ^ "Newton". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.