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Airy (Martian crater)
Encyclopedia
Airy is an impact crater
on Mars
, named in honor of the British Astronomer, Royal Sir George Biddell Airy
(1801–1892). The crater is approximately 40 kilometers in diameter and is located at 0.1°E 5.1°S in the Meridiani Planum
region. The much smaller crater Airy-0
, which defines the location of Mars' prime meridian
, lies within it.
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...
on 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...
, named in honor of the British Astronomer, Royal Sir George Biddell Airy
George Biddell Airy
Sir George Biddell Airy PRS KCB was an English mathematician and astronomer, Astronomer Royal from 1835 to 1881...
(1801–1892). The crater is approximately 40 kilometers in diameter and is located at 0.1°E 5.1°S in the Meridiani Planum
Meridiani Planum
Meridiani Planum is a plain located 2 degrees south of Mars' equator , in the westernmost portion of Terra Meridiani. It hosts a rare occurrence of gray crystalline hematite...
region. The much smaller crater Airy-0
Airy-0
Airy-0 is a crater on Mars whose location defines the position of the prime meridian of that planet. It is about across and lies within the larger crater Airy in the region Sinus Meridiani....
, which defines the location of Mars' prime meridian
Prime Meridian
The Prime Meridian is the meridian at which the longitude is defined to be 0°.The Prime Meridian and its opposite the 180th meridian , which the International Date Line generally follows, form a great circle that divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.An international...
, lies within it.