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Porter (Martian crater)
Encyclopedia
Porter is a large-scale impact crater
in the Thaumasia quadrangle
on the planet Mars
, situated in Aonia Terra at 50.8° south and 113.9º west. The impact caused a bowl 105 kilometres (65.2 mi) across. The name was chosen in 1973 by the International Astronomical Union
in honour of the US
astronomer
and explorer, Russell W. Porter
(1871-1949).
Impact crater
In the broadest sense, the term impact crater can be applied to any depression, natural or manmade, resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with a larger body...
in the Thaumasia quadrangle
Thaumasia quadrangle
The Thaumasia quadrangle is one of a series of 30 quadrangle maps of Mars used by the United States Geological Survey Astrogeology Research Program...
on the planet Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, situated in Aonia Terra at 50.8° south and 113.9º west. The impact caused a bowl 105 kilometres (65.2 mi) across. The name was chosen in 1973 by the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
in honour of the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
and explorer, Russell W. Porter
Russell W. Porter
Russell Williams Porter was an American artist, engineer, amateur astronomer and explorer. He was a pioneer in the field of “cutaway illustration" and is sometimes referred to as the "founder" or one of the "founders" of amateur telescope making."-Biography:Russell W...
(1871-1949).