Pharos (crater)
Pharos (/ˈfɛərɒs/ FAIR-oss) is a crater on Neptune's moon Proteus. It is named after the Lighthouse of Alexandria, also known as the Pharos of Alexandria.[1] It is currently the only named surface feature on any irregularly shaped moon of Neptune. It measures 10–15 km deep and has a diameter of around 250 km (160 mi) in diameter, making it more than half the diameter of Proteus itself.[2] The impact that created Pharos may have also created Hippocamp, due to how unusually close it is to Proteus.[3]
| Natural satellite | Proteus |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 250 km |
| Depth | 10–15 km |
| Discoverer | Voyager 2 |
| Eponym | Pharos of Alexandria |
References
- "Planetary Names: Crater, craters: Pharos on Proteus". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- Croft, S. (1992). "Proteus: Geology, shape, and catastrophic destruction". Icarus. 99 (2): 402–408. Bibcode:1992Icar...99..402C. doi:10.1016/0019-1035(92)90156-2.
- "Tiny Neptune Moon Spotted by Hubble May Have Broken from Larger Moon". HubbleSite. Space Telescope Science Institute. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
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