This impressive crater, that stretches well across the width of the HiRISE camera’s footprint, is notable for its sharp rim and steep walls.

There are also some interesting features on the crater floor, not to mention the ejecta blanket, the material surrounding the crater as a result of the original impact. In fact, when viewing this area with other images that have a wider range of view than HiRISE, the ejecta blankets for the craters located here take on the appearance of a flower.

This pattern of ejecta is common with Martian craters. The distinct sharp ends to the flower shaped ejected has led many scientists to suggest that water and ice were engulfed in the ejecta as it was thrown from the crater.

The crater is named after a town in Egypt .

Note: the above image is not map-projected, so North is down.

Written by: HiRISE Science Team (audio by Tre Gibbs)   (9 May 2012)

This is a stereo pair with PSP_007046_2030 .

More info and image formats at http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_025691_2030

Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona