Tag Archives: impact craters

HiRISE: Recent impact site in Noachis Terra

Posted on February 18, 2019 by rburnham

This image shows a recent impact in Noachis Terra in the southern mid-latitudes of Mars. The impact occurred in dark-toned ejecta material from a degraded, 60-kilometer crater to the south. Rather than a single impact crater, we see multiple impacts … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HiRISE: Exposing the rock in impact craters

Posted on February 7, 2019 by rburnham

In this complex crater (about 44-kilometers in diameter), we see bedrock in several locations from different depths in the crust. The central uplift exposes large fragments of green-toned bedrock that possibly originated from several kilometers beneath the surface. To the … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HiRISE: Impact near the south pole

Posted on January 22, 2019 by rburnham

This image shows a new impact crater that formed between July and September 2018. It’s notable because it occurred in the seasonal southern ice cap, and has apparently punched through it, creating a two-toned blast pattern. The impact hit on … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off

How do impacts make Mars central-pit craters?

Posted on January 18, 2019 by rburnham

[Editor’s note: From a paper by Samantha Peel and two co-authors recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.] Formation of central pits in impact craters on Mars: A statistical investigation of proposed mechanisms • Formation mechanisms for central pits … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

THEMIS: Something odd in Noachis Terra

Posted on January 9, 2019 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, January 9, 2019. This VIS image shows a portion of Noachis Terra to the northeast of Argyre Planitia. In the middle of the image is an unnamed crater that is not even close to being … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HiRISE: Just another quiet day on Mars

Posted on December 17, 2018 by rburnham

Just another quiet day on Mars. This cluster of [impact] craters is located, ironically, in Utopia Planitia. Beautiful Mars series. [More at links]

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HiRISE: Impact crater near Tempe Terra

Posted on November 20, 2018 by rburnham

An impact crater near Tempe Terra. Despite this crater likely being extremely old and filled-in with material, we can still see its ejecta blanket. Beautiful Mars series. [More at links]

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HiRISE: Crater in the aureole of Pavonis Mons

Posted on November 13, 2018 by rburnham

A crater in the aureole of Pavonis Mons. This is an unusual crater in the Pavonis Mons aureole, possibly a glacial deposit. It appears to have secondaries or textured ejecta (sign of freshness), but is mostly infilled. It also has … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

THEMIS: Crater rim gullies in Terra Sirenum

Posted on November 6, 2018 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, November 6, 2018. Numerous gullies dissect the northern rim of this unnamed crater in Terra Sirenum. The inside of the north rim faces away from the Sun and is more deeply gullied than the Sun-facing … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

THEMIS: Soft-featured craters in Arcadia Planitia

Posted on October 19, 2018 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, October 19, 2018. This false-color VIS image shows some of the plains and craters located in Arcadia Planitia. The soft-looking features in the impact craters indicate ground ice at shallow depths below the surface. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off