Peak Ring

Image Source: pds.jpl.nasa.gov

Central uplift characterized by a ring of peaks rather than a single peak. Peak rings are typical of larger terrestrial craters above ~50 km in diameter.

Barton Crater on Venus. This 54-km (32-mi) diameter crater is the size at which craters on Venus begin to possess peak-rings instead of a single central peak. The floor of the crater is flat and radar-dark, indicating possible infilling by lava flows sometime following the impact. Barton’s central peak-ring is discontinuous and appears to have been disrupted or separated during or following the cratering process.


Some or all content above used with permission from J. H. Wittke.


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