Spallanzani (Martian crater)

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Spallanzani is a crater on Mars in the Hellas region, located at about 58°S and 86°E. It has a diameter of around 71.7 km (44.6 miles). The crater is named after the Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729–1799); the name was approved by the IAU in 1973. Orbiting spacecraft have photographed many layered deposits on the crater floor. Layers can form in several ways, including volcanic activity, wind, or water. Many Martian craters once contained lakes, and some floors show deltas—evidence that water stood in these basins for a while. Deltas form when sediment is carried into a quiet body of water by streams. Because lakes could have supported life, craters like Spallanzani are interesting places to study the possibility of ancient life on Mars.