Contains:  Solar system body or event
Atlas, Astroavani - Avani Soares

Atlas

Atlas, Astroavani - Avani Soares

Atlas

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Description

Atlas is a crater of fractured ground (46,7 ° N, 44,4 ° E) with 87 km of diameter. The cause of the fractures that cut the ground of the crater is not well understood by it. It is believed that the slits take wide, flat floors as as a gutter (or graben) and what register a period of the elevation of the bottom of the crater. Is the question, which caused the elevation? Craters of fractured ground have been a lunar characteristic known from the days of the lunar Orbiters, but with images of the LROC, the geologists are working for better opinion as they were formed. Pictures LROC NAC allow a look in the interiors of the fractures, and with the images stereo they can measure his forms.

After the impact that created Atlas, the ground of the crater was fused. When he cooled, the ground became a solid. In case of the Atlas, eventually, the ground was lifted up, which caused his break and separaração, forming the graben, or fractures. There are two theories for the causes of the elevation. A possibility is the slow adjustment of the crust after the impact of formation of the crater. During the impact, the released energy pressed the crust. However, along the time the crust can recover his position of initial daily pay-impact. This recuperation would be going to supply the elevation that formed the fractures in the ground of the crater Atlas. A second possibility consists of the fact that the slits can be due to an intrusion of the magma in the crust below of the crater, that it lifted and interrupted the bottom of the crater when it increased of volume. While investigating craters of ground when the geologists were fractured they look frequently for signs of volcanic activity made a list to an intrusion of magma. To solve the origin of lunar resources like this one is one of the main focuses of the selenologia.

Fountain: LROC/NASA - Arizona State University

Adaptation: Avani Soares

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Atlas, Astroavani - Avani Soares