Rheasilvia
Rheasilvia /ˌriːəˈsɪlviə/ is the most prominent surface feature on the asteroid Vesta and is thought to be an impact crater. It is 505 km (314 mi) in diameter, which is 90% the diameter of Vesta itself, and is 95% the mean diameter of Vesta, 529 km (329 mi). However, the mean is affected by the crater itself. It is 89% the mean equatorial diameter of 569 km (354 mi), making it one of the largest craters in the Solar System, and at 75°S latitude, covers most of the southern hemisphere. The peak in the center of the crater is 200 km (120 mi) in diameter, and rises 22.5 km (14.0 mi; 74,000 ft) from its base, making it one of the tallest mountains known in the Solar System.
Southern hemisphere of Vesta, showing Rheasilvia crater | |
| Location | Asteroid Vesta |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 75°S 301°E |
| Diameter | 505 km (314 mi) |
| Dimensions | One of the tallest known mountains in the Solar System |
| Peak | 20–25 kilometres (12–16 mi; 66,000–82,000 ft) |
| Discoverer | Hubble Space Telescope |
| Eponym | Rhea Silvia, a mythological vestal virgin and mother of the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus |
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.