Ptolemaeus (Martian crater)

This article is about the crater on Mars. For the lunar crater, see Ptolemaeus (lunar crater).
Ptolemaeus
Viking Orbiter 1 mosaic
PlanetMars
Coordinates45°53′S 157°36′W / 45.88°S 157.6°W / -45.88; -157.6
QuadranglePhaethontis
Diameter165.18 km (102.64 mi)
EponymClaudius Ptolemaeus, a Greco-Egyptian astronomer (c. AD 90-160)

Ptolemaeus is a crater on Mars, found in the Phaethontis quadrangle. It measures approximately 165 kilometers in diameter and was named after Claudius Ptolemaeus (Ptolemy), the Greco-Egyptian astronomer (c. AD 90-160).[1]

Portion of Ptolemaeus crater, as seen by CTX camera (on MRO). Parts of the North and south rim are visible—at top and bottom of photo.

The Soviet probe Mars 3 is thought to have successfully landed in Ptolemaeus crater on 2 December 1971, but contact was lost seconds after landing due to a dust storm occurring at the time.[2] On 11 April 2013, NASA announced that the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) may have imaged the Mars 3 lander hardware on the surface of Mars. The HiRISE camera on the MRO took images of what may be the parachute, retrorockets, heat shield and lander.[3]

  1. ^ "Ptolemaeus (Martian crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. ^ Lakadawalla, Emily. "Russia's Mars 3 lander maybe found by Russian amateurs". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  3. ^ Webster, Guy (April 11, 2013). "NASA Mars Orbiter Images May Show 1971 Soviet Lander". NASA. Retrieved April 12, 2013.