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What is the Caloris Basin and why is it significant?
The Caloris basin has been found to be a significant source of sodium and potassium, indicating that the fractures created by the impact facilitate the release of gases from within the planet. The unusual terrain is also a source of these gases.
What created the Caloris Basin?
The Caloris Basin is the largest feature on the surface of Mercury. This crater was formed by the impact of a large meteorite in the early formation of the solar system. This may have been produced in response to shock waves which traveled to this point on the surface following the Caloris Basin impact.
What is a Caloris Basin in astronomy?
The Caloris Basin, also called Caloris Planitia, is an impact crater on Mercury about 1350km in diameter, one of the largest impact basins in the solar system. Caloris is Latin for heat and the basin is so-named because the Sun is almost directly overhead every second time Mercury passes perihelion.
What is so unique about the Caloris Basin on Mercury?
Mercury does not have a thick atmosphere to protect it from space debris. The small planet is riddled with craters, but none as spectacular as the Caloris Basin. Caloris is about 950 miles (1,525 kilometers) across and is ringed by mile-high mountains. …
What does Caloris Basin look like?
The Caloris Basin has a wrinkled floor, perhaps representing fractures from rapid cooling of this lava. Some older craters which were “flooded” by the lava outpouring from the Caloris impact are also visible. Both in size and structure, the Caloris Basin very much resembles Mare Orientale on the Earth’s Moon.
What was the cause of the Caloris Basin quizlet?
What caused the scarps found on Mercury? What was the cause of the Caloris Basin? Mercury’s core cooled and the planet shrank, causing its crust to compress and wrinkle.
When did Caloris Basin form?
Caloris is one of the youngest large multiring basins. It probably was formed at the same time as the last giant basins on the Moon, about 3.9 billion years ago.
What does Caloris basin look like?
What was the cause of the Caloris basin quizlet?
Where is the Caloris impact basin?
Mercury
Caloris, prominent multiringed impact basin on Mercury. The ramparts of Caloris are about 1,550 km (960 miles) across. Its interior contains extensively ridged and fractured plains.
How deep is the deepest crater on Mercury?
In shadows that temperature can drop drastically. At Mercury’s north pole there are some deep craters. For example, the large crater Prokofiev is the deepest crater measured on Mercury so far. It’s over 110 kilometers (68 miles) across.
Where can the Caloris Basin be found?
Caloris, prominent multiringed impact basin on Mercury. The ramparts of Caloris are about 1,550 km (960 miles) across. Its interior contains extensively ridged and fractured plains.