Tag Archives: volatiles

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 →

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HiRISE: Pits in Hale Crater ejecta

Posted on January 29, 2015 by rburnham

The pits visible here aren’t impact craters. The material they’re embedded into is ejecta (stuff thrown out of an impact crater when it forms) from a large crater called Hale which is not seen in this image. Substances called “volatiles” … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Volatiles and gullies

Posted on April 29, 2014 by rburnham

Beautiful Mars series. Volatiles and gullies. More Beautiful Mars images.

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Pitted deposits in Mars craters point to subsurface ice

Posted on March 19, 2012 by rburnham

Studies of pitted deposits in crater floors appear to indicate that subsurface ice has been more widespread on Mars than previously thought. That’s the conclusion of a team of reseachers led by Livio Tornabene (University of Western Ontario), who reported … Continue reading →

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What turned off the Martian magnetic field?

Posted on February 3, 2012 by rburnham

For roughly the first 500 to 800 million years of its existence, Mars had a magnetic field generated by a natural internal dynamo. This was powered by convection currents in the planet’s molten iron core, which operated vigorously as they … Continue reading →

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