Saturnalia Fossae
Parallel trough on Vesta named after Saturnalia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saturnalia Fossae /sætərˈneɪliə ˈfɒsə/ is the largest of the series of parallel Veneneian troughs in the northern hemisphere of the giant asteroid 4 Vesta. It is estimated to be approx. 39 km (24 mi) wide and is at least 365 km (227 mi); as of early 2012, one end disappeared in shadow and its total length was thus unknown. It is thought to be a shock fractures resulting from the impact that created Veneneia crater, which it is concentric with.[2] It is one of the longer chasms in the Solar System. The trough system is named after the Roman festival of Saturnalia; the name Saturnalia Fossae was officially approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) on 27 December 2011.[1]
Quick Facts Feature type, Coordinates ...
Feature type | Trough system |
---|---|
Coordinates | 28°3′N 37°3′E[1] |
Length | 344.94 km[1] |
Discoverer | Dawn |
Eponym | Saturnalia |
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