{{short description|Crater on Mars}} {{for|the crater on Callisto|Heimdall (crater)}} {{Infobox crater data | titlecolor = #FA8072 | title = Heimdal | image = Descent of Phoenix with a crater in the background taken by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.jpg | caption = Heimdal photographed by [[Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|MRO]], with the [[Phoenix lander]] parachuting down to a landing nearby. | coordinate_title = [[Mars#Geography|Coordinates]] | globe = Mars | coordinates = {{coord|68.3|N|235.3|E|globe:mars_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | diameter = 10 km | eponym = The Norwegian town of [[Heimdal]] }}

'''Heimdal''' is a relatively recent [[impact crater]] on the [[planet]] [[Mars]]. It is a simple crater which lies in [[Vastitas Borealis]], the northern plain. It is named after the Norwegian town of [[Heimdal]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Planetary Names: Crater, craters: Heimdal on Mars|url = https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14448|website = planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov|access-date = 2015-11-12}}</ref>

The crater is approximately 20 kilometers from the landing site of the [[Phoenix (spacecraft)|Phoenix lander]]. The landing site area is believed to be blanketed by ejecta excavated by the impact that created Heimdal, approximately 600 million years ago.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Arvidson|title=Mars Exploration Program 2007 Phoenix landing site selection and characteristics|year=2008|journal=[[Journal of Geophysical Research]]|volume=113|issue=E6|doi=10.1029/2007JE003021|last2=Adams|first2=D.|last3=Bonfiglio|first3=G.|last4=Christensen |first4=P.|last5=Cull|first5=S.|last6=Golombek|first6=M.|last7=Guinn|first7=J.|last8=Guinness|first8=E.|last9=Heet|first9=T.|pages=E00A03|bibcode = 2008JGRE..113.0A03A |last10=Kirk|first10=R.|last11=Knudson|first11=A.|last12=Malin|first12=M.|last13=Mellon|first13=M.|last14=McEwen|first14=A.|last15=Mushkin|first15=A.|last16=Parker|first16=T.|last17=Seelos|first17=F.|last18=Seelos|first18=K.|last19=Smith|first19=P.|last20=Spencer|first20=D.|last21=Stein|first21=T.|last22=Tamppari|first22=L.|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title = Geomorphic and geologic settings of the Phoenix Lander mission landing site|journal = Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets|date = 2009-01-01|issn = 2156-2202|pages = E00E04|volume = 114|issue = E1|doi = 10.1029/2009JE003416|language = en|first = T. L.|last = Heet|first2 = R. E.|last2 = Arvidson|first3 = S. C.|last3 = Cull|first4 = M. T.|last4 = Mellon|first5 = K. D.|last5 = Seelos|bibcode = 2009JGRE..114.0E04H|doi-access = free}}</ref> The spacecraft was photographed during landing by the [[Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]], and was captured parachuting in the line of sight to the crater. While appearing to be over the crater, the craft was actually 20&nbsp;km in front of it.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://astrogeology.usgs.gov/HotTopics/index.php?/archives/339-Name-Approved-for-Small-Martian-Crater.html Announcement of naming] *{{APOD |date=30 May 2008 |title=Descent of the Phoenix}} {{Geography of Mars}} {{Portal bar|Solar System}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heimdal (Martian Crater)}} [[Category:Impact craters on Mars]] [[Category:Mare Boreum quadrangle]]

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