Catena Mendeleev is a linear crater chain probably formed by the impact of fragments (called 'secondaries' by planetary scientists) that were ejected by the impact that formed Tsiolkovskiy Crater, which is 850 kilometers to the southwest of Mendeleev. Crater chains form from secondary impacts ejected radially from their parent crater. Today's featured image shows the rough and smooth textures on the inside of one of these secondary impacts. Secondary craters in a chain are often elongate in shape, with irregular rims. Secondary crater chains tend to occur in a zone immediately surrounding a large primary crater. However, larger impacts can move significant amounts of ejecta, including crater chains, far from the primary crater, as we see here at Catena Mendeleev.
Browse the full NAC frame to explore the craters in Catena Mendeleev!
Related Posts: Chain of secondary craters in Mare Orientale, Stream of Secondary Craters
Published by Sarah Braden on 2 February 2011