Bernard (crater) should not be confused with Barnard (Martian crater).
| Titlecolor: |
|
| Bernard | |
| Coordinate Title: | Coordinates |
| Globe: | Mars |
| Coordinates: | -23.4°N -154.2°W |
| Diameter: | 128 km |
| Eponym: | P. Bernard, a French atmospheric scientist |
Bernard is a large crater in the Memnonia quadrangle of Mars, located at 23.4° south latitude and 154.2° west longitude. It is 128 km in diameter and was named after P. Bernard, a French atmospheric scientist. The floor of the crater contains large cracks, which may be due to erosion.
Impact craters generally have a rim with ejecta around them, in contrast volcanic craters usually do not have a rim or ejecta deposits. As craters get larger (greater than 10 km in diameter) they usually have a central peak.[1] The peak is caused by a rebound of the crater floor following the impact.[2] If one measures the diameter of a crater, the original depth can be estimated with various ratios. Because of this relationship, researchers have found that many Martian craters contain a great deal of material; much of it is believed to be ice deposited when the climate was different.[3] Sometimes craters expose layers that were buried. Rocks from deep underground are tossed onto the surface. Hence, craters can show us what lies deep under the surface.