McLaughlin (Martian crater)

McLaughlin Crater^[1][2]

McLaughlin Crater viewed from orbit - small 0.550 km (0.342 mi) portion of 90.92 km (56.50 mi) diameter crater floor is shown - (MRO, HiRISE) (January, 2013).
Planet	Mars
Region	Oxia Palus quadrangle
Coordinates	[ ⚑ ] : 21°54′N 337°38′E / 21.9°N 337.63°E / 21.9; 337.63[1]
Diameter	90.92 km (56.50 mi)[1]
Depth	2.2 km (1.4 mi)[2]

McLaughlin Crater is an old crater in the Oxia Palus quadrangle of Mars, located at [ ⚑ ] 21°54′N 337°38′E / 21.9°N 337.63°E / 21.9; 337.63. It is 90.92 km (56.50 mi)^[1] in diameter and 2.2 km (1.4 mi)^[2] deep. The crater was named after Dean B. McLaughlin, an American astronomer (1901-1965).^[1][3] The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has found evidence that the water came from beneath the surface between 3.7 billion and 4 billion years ago and remained long enough to make carbonate-related clay minerals found in layers.^[2][4] McLaughlin Crater, one of the deepest craters on Mars, contains Mg-Fe clays and carbonates that probably formed in a groundwater-fed alkaline lake. This type of lake could have had a massive biosphere of microscopic organisms.^[5]

McLaughlin crater - close-up
(released 14 January 2016).

See also

• 2024 McLaughlin, minor planet
• Climate of Mars
• Impact crater
• List of craters on Mars
• McLaughlin (lunar crater)
• Water on Mars

References

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