Lyot Crater Dunes

Today's VIS image shows part of the floor of Lyot Crater, including a large field of sand dunes on the crater floor. At 236 km diameter (146 miles), Lyot Crater is one of the largest craters in the northern hemisphere of Mars. Lyot is a double ringed crater, and these dunes are located in the inner of the two rings. Lyot Crater is located in Vastitas Borealis, part of the northern hemisphere lowlands. Craters that contain two rings — one inside the other — are variously called peak ring craters or double ring basins. This morphology can develop in craters larger than 100 km across.