| Sometimes
Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) images show things
that look very bizzare. Unique among the MOC images is a suite of pictures
from northwestern Hellas Planitia, such
as the example shown here. The seeming familiarity of many MOC images, such
as those showing earth-like sand dunes or stream-like gullies might give
the impression that it is pretty easy to understand what MOC images are
telling us about the geology of Mars. Indeed, much of what has been found
by MOC is both interpretable and profound---layers recording the planet's
early geologic history, evidence for recent groundwater emerging at the
surface, dust storms and frost patterns that indicate seasonal change. |
 |
However,
many martian landforms remain unexplained and may require years of study.
This picture, acquired in late October 2000, appears to be a jumble of plates
or layers exposed at the surface but subsequently covered by a thin mantle
to give the scene a uniform brightness. What are these materials? Perhaps
time and careful study will tell. The picture is illuminated from the upper
left and covers an area 2.9 by 4.1 km near 39.7°S, 306.7°W. |
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