Astronomy Picture of the Day · February 3, 1996

A Huge Impact Crater on Mars

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for February 3, 1996 is “A Huge Impact Crater on Mars,” an image. It is credited to Credit: NASA, Viking, USGS. The original explanation runs about 105 words.

From the explanation

“What hit Mars ? The impact crater Schiparelli near the center of the above image was likely caused by a collision with an object the size of an asteroid .”

— APOD editors, February 3, 1996

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date: February 3, 1996
Type: Image
Credit: Credit: NASA, Viking, USGS
Copyright: No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
Explanation length: About 105 words

All of February 1996 → · 1996 by month → · Full archive since 1995 →

Topics in this entry

Mars Asteroids

Topics are matched from words in the title and explanation.

On this day: February 3 in other years

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Source

Astronomy Picture of the Day, February 3, 1996 — science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-1996-february-03-a-huge-impact-crater-on-mars

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.