Mars Crater Named after late NAU professor, Nadine Barlow
A Mars crater has been named after Nadine Barlow, honoring the late NAU professor’s pioneering contributions to planetary science.
A prominent crater on Mars will forever carry the name of Northern Arizona University professor Nadine Barlow, honoring her pioneering work in planetary science and her lasting impact on Arizona’s scientific community.
The International Astronomical Union recently announced that the 87-kilometer-wide crater, located in Mars’ northern Sinai Planum, would be named after Barlow, who served as chair of NAU’s Department of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences until her death from cancer in 2020.
Legacy of discovery and mentorship
Barlow’s contributions to planetary science were groundbreaking. “Dr. Barlow was responsible for numerous scientific discoveries that significantly advanced our understanding of Mars erosion history, impact crater ejecta dynamics, and crater excavation physics,” said Dr. Joseph Boyce of the University of Hawai’i, who initiated the naming process.
Her work included producing the first global Martian impact craters catalog and developing a crater classification system that has remained the standard for 25 years.
In Flagstaff, Barlow was known not only for her research but for her dedication to students and collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Astrogeology Science Center. “Nadine was a true gem in the field of planetary science—a hard and focused worker, dedicated teacher and colleague, a warm personality, and a good friend and mentor,” Mark Salvatore, associate professor at NAU, told the NAU Review.
Building Arizona’s planetary science community
From 1998 to 2020, Barlow organized annual scientific meetings at USGS Astrogeology that brought together scientists and students studying impact craters throughout the solar system. Her work strengthened the connection between NAU and USGS, creating opportunities for Arizona students to enter the field of planetary science.
“I don’t think I would be in my position if I hadn’t been able to explore this career path and work with this program so early in my career, which was a direct result of the work Nadine put in with the USGS and other collaborators,” said Dr. Lori Pigue, who studied under Barlow’s leadership.
The naming of Barlow crater ensures that her contributions to planetary science and Arizona’s scientific community will be remembered for generations to come.
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