Haulani /haʊˈlɑːni/ is an impact crater located on Ceres that contains "Spot 1", one of the bright spots observed by the Dawn spacecraft. The crater was named after Haulani, the Hawaiian goddess of plants.[1][2] In July 2018, NASA released a comparison of physical features, including Haulani crater, found on Ceres with similar ones present on Earth.[4]
Location | Ceres |
---|---|
Coordinates | 5°20′N 10°35′E / 5.34°N 10.58°E[1][2] |
Diameter | 34 kilometres (21 mi)[3] |
Naming | Haulani, Hawaiian goddess of plants |
Haulani is one of the youngest craters on Ceres, estimated to have been formed between 1.7 and 5.9 Myr (million years) ago,[5] and as such has numerous unique geological features, with much evidence of tectonic activity.[3] The crater is internally divided between its east, which lies on a raised plateau, and its west, which is of a low altitude.[5]