Tag Archives: University of Arizona

HiRISE: A layered mound in Juventae Chasma

Many of the chasmata (the plural of “chasma”) in Valles Marineris contain light-toned mounds that are distinct from the darker rocks that define the walls. The light-toned mounds, like this one in Juventae Chasma, generally contain sulfates, which are salts … Continue reading

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Mars Phoenix: Dust covers landing scars after almost 5 Mars years

A recent view from Mars orbit of the site where NASA’s Phoenix Mars mission landed on far-northern Mars nearly a decade ago shows that dust has covered some marks of the landing. The Phoenix lander itself, plus its back shell … Continue reading

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HiRISE: Icy layers in craters

Scientists now realize that ice is very common on the Martian surface. It often fills up craters and valleys in the mid-latitudes in older climates, although when it’s covered in dust it can be hard to recognize. Today the climate … Continue reading

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HiRISE: Stranger (crater) things

Stranger (crater) things. Could this deposit at the bottom of an impact crater be a relic of glacial features? Beautiful Mars series.

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HiRISE: Almost….

Almost… These two channels in Hebrus Valles almost made a connection, but alas… Beautiful Mars series.

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HiRISE: This broken land

This broken land. Surface near Athabasca Valles lava. Beautiful Mars series.

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HiRISE: A nice gathering of slope streaks

A nice gathering of slope streaks. Beautiful Mars series.

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HiRISE: Etched terrain in Meridiani Planum

Etched terrain in Meridiani Planum. Meridiani Planum is a plain located 2 degrees south of Mars’ equator, and the region itself is home to the rover Opportunity. (Altitude: 271 km.) Beautiful Mars series.

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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter preps aging hardware, instruments for extended operation

NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has begun extra stargazing to help the space agency accomplish advances in Mars exploration over the next decade. The spacecraft already has worked more than double its planned mission life since launch in 2005. NASA … Continue reading

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HiRISE: Crater tadpoles

This impact crater looks amusingly like a tadpole because of the valley that was carved by water that used to fill it. When the water level inside the crater increased, it breached the crater wall, flowed outward and formed a … Continue reading

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