Tag Archives: NASA

HiRISE: A beveled circular feature

Posted on August 28, 2019 by rburnham

A beveled circular feature. This very interesting, beveled and flat circular surface is surrounded by craters. It is itself a pedestal crater or could it be a small ancient volcano? High resolution can afford us a closer look at the … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Medusae Fossae formation yardangs

Posted on August 28, 2019 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, August 28, 2019. Yardangs are present at the top of this VIS image. These features are created by long term winds scouring a poor cemented surface material into linear ridges and valleys. These yardangs are … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Hellas Planitia ridge network

Posted on August 27, 2019 by rburnham

A ridge network in Hellas Planitia. The objective of this observation is to examine a ridge network that seems to be forming from an upper layer of material. There are many exposures of ridges in this location, and this spot … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Pits & channels in Arabia Terra

Posted on August 27, 2019 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, August 27, 2019. The pits and channels in the VIS image are located along the margin between Arabia Terra and Acidalia Planitia. Arabia Terra is one of the oldest surface regions on Mars and contains … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Into the dune database

Posted on August 26, 2019 by rburnham

Into the dune database. Dunes are particularly suited to comprehensive planetary studies because they are abundant over a wide range of elevations and terrain types. Observations like this one are used to aid in classification and volume estimates of dunes … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Until we meet again

Posted on August 26, 2019 by rburnham

Sols 2506-08, August 23, 2019, update by MSL scientist Michelle Minitti: Today was the final opportunity to actively command Curiosity before the Sun comes between us and Mars. Most of the instruments are safely stored for the solar conjunction break, … Continue reading →

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What’s solar conjunction and why does it matter?

Posted on August 26, 2019 by rburnham

The daily chatter between antennas here on Earth and those on NASA spacecraft at Mars is about to get much quieter for a few weeks. That’s because Mars and Earth will be on opposite sides of the Sun, a period … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Lava ridge on flank of Pavonis Mons

Posted on August 26, 2019 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, August 26, 2019. Today’s VIS image shows lava flows near the flank of Pavonis Mons. Pavonis Mons is one of the three large aligned Tharsis region volcanoes. At top is a fine example of a … Continue reading →

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Australian Outback as testbed for Mars

Posted on August 23, 2019 by rburnham

This week, scientists from NASA’s upcoming Mars 2020 mission joined their counterparts from the joint European-Russian ExoMars mission in an expedition to the Australian Outback, one of the most remote, arid regions on the planet. Both teams came to hone … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Narrow troughs

Posted on August 23, 2019 by rburnham

Narrow troughs. What exactly are the nature of these thin, narrow troughs? They might may be part of a system of dikes that came from the same magma source that fed the whole area in Thaumasia Planum, just south of … Continue reading →

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