Vernal (Martian crater)

Vernal is a crater on Mars, located at 6°N, 355.5°E in the Oxia Palus quadrangle.

It is measures approximately 55.51 kilometres (34.49 mi) in diameter and was named after Vernal, Utah, United States.

A study of images taken with the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter suggests that hot springs once existed in Vernal crater, in the Oxia Palus quadrangle.

In Vernal Crater, on a dark part of the floor two light-toned, elliptical structures closely resemble hot springs on the Earth.

The discovery of opaline silica by the Mars Rovers on the surface also suggests the presence of hot springs.