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Investigating Central Pit Craters in the Northern Hemisphere of Mercury

Investigating Central Pit Craters in the Northern Hemisphere of Mercury. By: Curtis Dankof Mentor: Dr. Nadine Barlow Northern Arizona University. Central Pit Craters. A crater which contains a central depression Floor Pit - directly on the floor Summit Pit - on central rise/peak. Mars

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Investigating Central Pit Craters in the Northern Hemisphere of Mercury

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  1. Investigating Central Pit Craters in the Northern Hemisphere of Mercury By: Curtis Dankof Mentor: Dr. Nadine Barlow Northern Arizona University

  2. Central Pit Craters • A crater which contains a central depression • Floor Pit- directly on the floor • Summit Pit- on central rise/peak

  3. Mars • Mercury Floor PitSummit Pit 10 km

  4. Formation • Impact-induced vaporization of subsurface volatiles • (Wood et al., 1978) • Excavation into weaker (possibly liquid) subsurface layers • (Croft, 1983) • Collapse of material weakened/brecciated during crater formation (Croft, 1981) • Collapse of central peak in weak targets • (Greeley et al., 1982) • Drainage of melt into sub-floor fractures • (Senftand Stewart, 2011; Bray et al., 2012; Elder et al., 2012) • Mercury is volatile-poor

  5. Volcanism/Gas Release • Collapse of magma chambers • Volcanic past • Release of gaseous material • Sulfur vaporizing on surface • Recent formations

  6. Project Objectives • Objective is to compare to outer bodies • Mars, Ganymede, Callisto • Similarities in formation? • New mechanism altogether?

  7. Geographical Distribution • Prevalence • Geographical region • Elevation • Latitude/Longitude • Geologic Unit • Insight into composition of Mercury

  8. JMARS Program • Utilized the JMARS Program • 3-point routine

  9. Data • Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) from MESSENGER • Crater diameter > 5km

  10. Acknowledgements • Thank you to: • Dr. Nadine Barlow • Kathleen Stigmon • NAU/NASA Space Grant • ASU for JMARS • MESSENGER Team • Arizona Space Grant Consortium

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