Tag Archives: High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment

HiRISE: Dramatic changes over the south polar residual cap

Posted on October 19, 2018 by rburnham

The South Polar residual cap is composed of carbon dioxide ice that persists through each Martian summer. However, it is constantly changing shape. The slopes get more direct illumination at this polar location, so they warm up and sublimate, going … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: The pits of Elysium Mons

Posted on October 18, 2018 by rburnham

During the 2018 Mars dust storm, we obtained a clear view of the summit of the giant volcano Elysium Mons. We see the western rim and floor of the caldera, and a chain of pits (called a “catena”) extending from … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Colorful impact

Posted on October 17, 2018 by rburnham

Some regions of Mars are not very colorful, but we can be surprised by local features. This image of an impact crater in the south Syrtis Major region was acquired as a “ride-along” with a CRISM observation, which targeted this … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Rising above it in Amazonis Planitia

Posted on October 15, 2018 by rburnham

This image shows a bright, rectangular-looking landform surrounded by a dark floor. How did this feature get here if it looks so different than its surroundings? The feature resembles a plateau. Dark streaks mark steep slopes on its sides while … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Linear vent and flows to the southeast of Zunil Crater

Posted on October 12, 2018 by rburnham

A linear vent and flows to the southeast of Zunil Crater. This is located within the Elysium quadrangle on Mars, a region with a volcanic past that for which we can still see evidence of old lava flows. Beautiful Mars … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: The walls in Milankovic Crater

Posted on October 11, 2018 by rburnham

The walls in Milankovic Crater. The objective of this observation is to determine the nature of depressions in the mantle on the wall of Milankovic Crater. It seems that the deeper depressions into the mantle have a straight edge along … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Fresh impact near Airy Crater

Posted on October 10, 2018 by rburnham

A fresh impact near Airy Crater. By “fresh,” we are speaking in geological terms, of course, as this impact did not occur in our lifetimes. But we can still see the rim and the ejecta around the crater fairly well. This … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Terrain at the intersection of a valley and crater floor

Posted on October 10, 2018 by rburnham

Terrain at the intersection of a valley and crater floor. Beautiful Mars series. [More at links]

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HiRISE: Summit dunes and their sand sources

Posted on October 9, 2018 by rburnham

The ultimate origin of the sediment that forms Martian dunes has long been debated. While sand dunes on Earth are primarily sourced by quartz-bearing components of granitic continental crust, it’s often suggested that sand on Mars derives from eroded volcanic … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Tell-tale bedrock in Tyrrhena Terra

Posted on October 9, 2018 by rburnham

Large craters, like this 50-kilometer diameter one, can uplift material from below and form a mountain-like central peak. Craters of this size on Mars become unstable as they form and collapse due to gravity. Craters with central peaks and terraced … Continue reading →

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