Gusev crater

Gusev Crater iscrater 15 degrees south ofequator onplanet Mars, about 170 kilometersdiameterformed approximately threefour billion years ago. It was named after Russian astronomer Matvei Gusev (1826-1866)1976.

A channel system named Ma'adim Vallis drains intothat probably carried liquid water, or waterice, at some pointMars' past. The crater appearsbe an old crater lake bed, filledsediments up3000 feet thick. Some exposed outcrops appearshow faint layering,some researchers also believe that landforms visibleimages ofmouthMa'adim Vallis whereenters Gusev Crater resemble landforms seensome terrestrial river deltas. Deltasthis nature can take tens or hundredsthousandsyearsform on Earth, suggesting thatwater flows may have lastedlong periods. Orbital images indicate that there may once have beenvery large lake nearsourceMa'adim Vallis that could have providedsourcethis water. Itnot known whether this flow was slowcontinuous, punctuated by sporadic large outbursts, or some combinationthese patterns.

More recently, satellite images showtrailsdust devils on Gusev Crater's floor.

On January 3 2004, Gusev Crater waslanding site offirst roverNASA's two Mars Exploration Rovers, named Spirit. Ithoped thatnumerous smallermore recent cratersthis region will have exposed sedimentary material from early eras.

Crivitz crater issmaller crater located within Gusev.