Liu Hsin (crater)


Liu Hsin Crater is a crater in the Phaethontis quadrangle of Mars, located at 53.6°S latitude and 171.6°W longitude. It is 137.0 km in diameter and was named after Liu Xin. Liu Hsin was a Chinese astronomer, historian, and editor during the Western Han Dynasty and the Xin Dynasty.
The name was approved in 1973 by the International Astronomical Union Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature.

Dunes

Liu Hsin Crater shows some barchan dunes. When there are perfect conditions for producing sand dunes, steady wind in one direction and just enough sand, a barchan sand dune forms. Barchans have a gentle slope on the wind side and a much steeper slope on the lee side where horns or a notch often forms.