Tag Archives: impacts

THEMIS: Gasa Crater nestled inside bigger crater

Posted on November 4, 2016 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, November 4, 2016. The smaller crater within the larger crater is called Gasa Crater (the larger crater is unnamed). Gullies dissect the inner rims of both craters. More THEMIS Images of the Day by geological … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Tyrrhena Terra in false color

Posted on September 12, 2016 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, September 12, 2016. Today’s false color image shows part of the plains of Tyrrhena Terra. The THEMIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to create a false … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Paired craters in big Noachis Terra crater – binary asteroid hit?

Posted on September 2, 2016 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, September 2, 2016. Today’s false color image shows an unnamed crater in Noachis Terra. The paired small craters near the center may be where a binary asteroid struck. The THEMIS camera contains 5 filters. The data … Continue reading →

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Evidence of Mars life hard to find at impact sites?

Posted on August 9, 2016 by rburnham

Scientists suggest signs of life from under Mars’ surface may not survive in rocks excavated by some meteorite impacts. Scientists analysing samples from Mars’ surface have so far not conclusively detected organic compounds that are indigenous to Mars, which would … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Steinheim Crater

Posted on May 24, 2016 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, May 24, 2016. Today’s VIS image shows Steinheim Crater, located in Arcadia Planitia. This is a relatively pristine crater with a double layer ejecta blanket and a minimally modified crater interior. More THEMIS Images of … Continue reading →

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Mega-tsunamis likely altered Mars landscape

Posted on May 20, 2016 by rburnham

The geologic shape of what were once shorelines through Mars’ northern plains convinces scientists that two large meteorites – hitting the planet millions of years apart – triggered a pair of mega-tsunamis. These gigantic waves forever scarred the Martian landscape … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: On the shapes of impact craters

Posted on May 18, 2016 by rburnham

The shape of a crater can depend on factors including the angle of impact and the pre-impact slope and topography. This image shows a roughly 3-kilometer impact crater, formed on the sloping walls of Tithonium Chasma, part of the large … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Impact-triggered landslide in Kasei Valles

Posted on April 8, 2016 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, April 8, 2016. This VIS image shows a small portion of Kasei Valles. The channel rim at the top of the image shows a complex series of processes. The crater was the source of the … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Cubism in western rim of Holden Crater

Posted on April 7, 2016 by rburnham

This image covers the western rim of Holden Crater during northern summer. Since Holden Crater is in the Southern hemisphere of Mars, the shadows are long in northern summer (southern winter). Where the crater rim is well illuminated, we can … Continue reading →

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Did early bombardment boost life’s chances?

Posted on April 6, 2016 by rburnham

Comets and asteroids as large as West Virginia smacking into Mars some 4 billion years ago could have created a haven for life there not so long after the birth of the solar system. The ancient impacts some 4 billion … Continue reading →

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