{
  "id": 13024637,
  "title": "APOD: 2026 October 9 – Stickney Crater",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/apod-2026-october-9-stickney-crater",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-09T04:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NASA Science",
    "slug": "nasa-science",
    "url": "https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-9-stickney-crater/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 9, 2026, the Astronomy Picture of the Day showcased Stickney Crater, the largest crater on Phobos, one of Mars' two moons. Named after Chloe Angeline Stickney Hall, the mathematician wife of astronomer Asaph Hall who discovered both Mars' moons in 1877, Stickney is nearly half the diameter of Phobos itself. This enhanced-color image, captured by the HiRISE camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in March 2008, reveals a crater 9 kilometers across, almost half the size of Phobos.\n\nThe impact that formed Stickney likely came close to shattering the moon due to its size. Streaks suggest loose material slid down inside the crater walls over time, while light bluish regions near the rim could indicate a relatively freshly exposed surface. The mysterious grooves along the surface may be due to tidal stresses experienced by close-orbiting Phobos or the crater-forming impact itself.",
  "summary": "The post APOD: 2026 October 9 – Stickney Crater appeared first on NASA Science .",
  "key_points": [
    "Stickney Crater is the largest on Phobos, Mars' moon.",
    "Named after Asaph Hall's mathematician wife, Chloe Stickney.",
    "Enhanced-color image shows 9 km diameter crater inside Phobos."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Stickney Crater image reveals Phobos' fragile structure, as its large size relative to the moon suggests a massive impact could have shattered Phobos, altering its shape and surface over time.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NASA",
        "title": "APOD: 2026 October 9 – Stickney Crater",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/apod-2026-october-9-stickney-crater-13037792",
        "published": "2026-10-09T04:05:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}