Milankovic Crater

Milankovič is a impact crater in the Diacria quadrangle. It has a diameter of 118.4 km and is located at 54.7° north latitude and 146.7° west longitude (213.3 E). The crater is easy to see on Mars photographs because it lies north of Olympus Mons and sits by itself in the flat plain in the North. It is named after Milutin Milanković (1879–1958), a Serbian geophysicist and astrophysicist.^[1] There is also an asteroid and a crater on the moon named after Milutin Milanković. Milanković Crater is the setting of the short story King of Mars, part of the Mars Mars 2194 by Canadian author Jack Stornoway.

It is named after Milutin Milanković (1879–1958), a Serbian geophysicist and astrophysicist.^[2] There is also an asteroid and a crater on the moon named after Milutin Milanković. Milanković Crater is the setting of the short story King of Mars, part of the Mars Mars 2194 by Canadian author Jack Stornoway.

Map showing the location of Milankovic Crater
Milankovič Crater, as seen by CTX camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Milankovič Crater, as seen by CTX camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Dark dots in center are dunes.
Depressions with straight southern walls, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. Box indicates part enlarged in images below. Image location is in Milankovič crater in Diacria quadrangle.
Enlargement of above image of straight walled depression, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. Note that the southern wall is dark compared to the northern wall.

Depressions in Milankovic Crater

The triangular depressions visible in Milankovic Crater contain water ice in the straight wall that faces the pole, according to a new study. This discovery was hailed as a big deal because it means pure water may be easily acquired for future cities on Mars.^[3] Eight sites were found with Milankovic Crater being the only one in the northern hemisphere. This discovery is important because the ice lies under only a meter or two of cover. Research was conducted with instruments on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO).^[4] ^[5] ^[6] ^[7] ^[8]

Depressions with straight southern walls, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. Box indicates part enlarged in images below.

Enlargement of above image of straight walled depression Note that the southern wall is dark compared to the northern wall.

Further enlargement of above image

The following images are ones referred to in this study of subsurface ice sheets.^[9]

Wide view of part of Milankovic Crater Many depressions here contain ice in their walls.
Close view from a previous image The triangular shape of some depressions are noted. The area in the box is enlarged in following images.
Close view of depression Arrows indicate where there is a very thin, 1-2 meter covering on what is believed to be ice.

Wide view of part of Milankovic Crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Many depressions here contain ice in their walls.
Close view of part of Milankovic Crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program This was one of the places were ice is especially evident. Image taken with HiRISE under HiWish program.
Close view from a previous image, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program The triangular shape of some depressions are noted. The area in the box is enlarged in following images.
Close view of depression, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Straight, steep wall near the bottom faces the north pole.
Close view of depression, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Arrows indicate where there is a very thin, 1-2 meter covering on what is believed to be ice.