Skip to content

Questions about Veneneia (crater)

Short answers, pulled from the story.

How big is Veneneia crater on Vesta?

Veneneia crater is 395 kilometers in diameter, making it the second-largest impact crater on the asteroid Vesta. That size equals roughly 70% of Vesta's own equatorial diameter, placing it among the largest craters in the Solar System.

How old is Veneneia crater on Vesta?

Veneneia is at least 2 billion years old. Scientists estimate it could be as old as 4.2 billion years, which would place its formation in the early Solar System.

Who discovered Veneneia crater on Vesta?

Veneneia was discovered by the Dawn spacecraft in 2011. Dawn's observations revealed the crater's size and its connection to large-scale fractures on the opposite side of Vesta.

Why is Veneneia crater partially buried on Vesta?

Veneneia is overlain and partially obliterated by Rheasilvia, an even larger impact basin that formed after Veneneia. Rheasilvia has erased a significant portion of Veneneia's rim and floor.

What does Veneneia crater have to do with Saturnalia Fossae?

Saturnalia Fossae is a system of troughs on Vesta's northern hemisphere that are concentric to Veneneia. Researchers believe these troughs, with the largest stretching more than 400 kilometers long and around 39 kilometers wide, are large-scale fractures caused by the Veneneia impact.

Who is Veneneia crater named after?

Veneneia crater is named after Venenia, one of the founding Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome. The Vestal Virgins were priestesses dedicated to the goddess Vesta, who is also the namesake of the asteroid on which the crater sits.

Up next

Queue