HiRISE: Gullies and craters and dunes, oh my!

ESP_050111_1305This unnamed, approximately 30-kilometer diameter crater, formed in the Southern highlands of Mars. Our image shows regions of geologic diversity within, making this an interesting spot for scientists to study how different Martian processes interact with each other.

Gullies, or channels formed by fluids such as water or lava, cut into the rim and sides of this crater. The presence of gullies can reveal clues about the ancient history of Mars, such as the amount of flowing fluid needed to form them and roughly how long ago that happened. This crater may also host features actively changing on the surface of Mars known as “recurring slope lineae” (RSL). Manifesting as dark streaks on steep slopes such as the walls of… [More at link]

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