DLR Institute of Planetary Research - 21.11.2011 - Ejecta from Vesta’s “Snowman” craters

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21.11.2011 - Ejecta from Vesta’s “Snowman” craters

This Dawn FC (framing camera) image shows ejecta from two of the large “Snowman” craters on the left of the image. This ejecta smooths out Vesta’s surface in the rest of the image. When an impact creates a crater lots of small, loose material is commonly thrown out onto the surrounding surface. This small, loose material is called ejecta and is often identified by its distinguishingly smooth appearance. This ejecta only has a few, small, fresh impact craters on its surface and there are no visible older craters buried underneath it. As there are no craters visible underneath it, this ejecta must be reasonably thick. The bumpy texture in the ejecta in the top right of the image is probably caused by movement in the ejecta due to slumping. Near to the “Snowman” craters there are some lumpy structures in the ejecta. These may be larger pieces of debris that were thrown out during the impact which formed the ejecta and the “Snowman” craters.

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