BEAUTIFUL MARS

Images and posts from HiRISE, the high resolution camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO, NASA). We are based at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. Enhanced color pictures are 1 km across; black and white are less than 5 km. Visit our site: uahirise.org

[beautifulmars]

HiPOD: The Scalloped Terrain of Utopia Planitia

This image footprint is in a region of abundant scalloped depressions. Their formation most likely involves development of oval- to scalloped-shaped depressions that may coalesce together, leading to the formation of large areas of pitted terrain. Scalloped pits typically have a steep pole-facing scarp and a gentler equator-facing slope.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_077037_2240 date: 2 January 2023 altitude: 299 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: Fluvial Erosion in Phlegra Montes

This public target via HiWish suggests to observe possible fluvial erosion that could help understand the climate history of Mars. Context Camera data and previous HiRISE images show faint, but possible channels. Phlegra Montes is a range of gently curving mountains and ridges on Mars, extending from the northeastern portion of the Elysium volcanic province to the northern lowlands.

ID: ESP_076823_2195 date: 16 December 2022 altitude: 296 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: Layers in West Melas Chasma

This stunning image shows well-exposed layers of a canyon wall in Melas Chasma. Our science goal is to see if we can constrain layer orientations, pinchout patterns and unconformities that can help determine layer origins. A stereo pair will help us to measure layer orientations.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_077043_1715 date: 2 January 2023 altitude: 264 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: The Ridges Within

The objective of this observation is to examine ridges on the floor of an extremely old impact crater located in Noachis Terra. Like its namesake, Noachis Terra (“Land of Noah”) is a southern highland region of heavily cratered and ancient terrain and is west of the giant Hellas impact basin.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_077040_1565 date: 2 January 2023 altitude: 255 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: Steep Slopes of Crumbling Bedrock in Valles Marineris

This image covers a rocky ridge deep in Melas Chasma, targeted to sample bedrock exposures. The slopes are quite steep, so there has been considerable mass wasting where boulders become loose over time and tumble down the slopes.

Hiking over this terrain would be challenging for future human visitors. It would also be quite challenging for rovers to drive here. Drones that can fly over this terrain may be the best way to explore the geology.

ID: ESP_092075_1680 date: 18 March 2026 altitude: 263 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: Deposits in Aeolis Dorsa

Branching deposits in this area have been shown to be consistent with river deltas. Measurements of channel-belt width and thicknesses of river deltas on Earth point to relationships between width, thickness, and backwater hydrodynamics. Here, we would like to make similar measurements of the delta deposits in the Aeolis Dorsa region.

ID: ESP_076995_1735 date: 29 December 2022 altitude: 265 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: A Flow East of Hellas Planitia

This image was a repeat request to track any changes from earlier HiRISE images. The goal of these obsevations was to examine material that appears to be flowing through the gap in a crater rim to a lower level. This breach and the materials on it are the most interesting aspects of the images.

ID: ESP_077010_1345 date: 30 December 2022 altitude: 248 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: Flows at the Ejecta Edge near Noord Crater

This image shows flow features at the edge of extended ejecta deposits. Here we can study the textures, nature, and origins of these flows in high resolution. The Context Camera also shows the existence of flows at this location. Our observation extends the mosaic coverage at Noord Crater, assisting in our ongoing characterization of that crater.

Grayscale cutouts are less than 5 km across. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_076988_1605 date: 29 December 2022 altitude: 258 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: Down in the Crater

This observation shows contact between material inside large and heavily eroded crater where an upper layer appears to be eroding back and forming a scarp. A high resolution image will help us to look for fine-scale bedding or other indications of the nature of these geologic units.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_076988_1965 date: 29 December 2022 altitude: 279 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: On the Shapes of Dunes

This observation is part of a long-running image campaign to aid in the classification and volume estimates of dunes in the U.S. Geological Survey global dune database. Sand dunes are among the most widespread wind features present on Mars. An earlier image from 2017 showed intresting height vs. ripple wavelength trends, but we need a digital terrain model to assess.

Grayscale cutout is less than 5 km across; enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km. For full image including scale bars, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_076988_1165 date: 29 December 2022 altitude: 249 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: Channels in Rahway Valles

This suggestion footprint contains channels and ridges that may have been created by volcanic, fluvial, and/or glacial processes. Higher resolution observations (especially stereo observations) of these channels could help to untangle the geologically recent histories of volcanism and water in the Elysium region.

Image cutout is less than 5 km across. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_076981_1890 date: 28 December 2022 altitude: 275 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona #Mars #science #NASA

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HiPOD: The Wall of a Crater in Tyrrhena Terra

A public target suggestion from HiWish, this observation was acquired to determine if lava flow was ever present and to evaluate the landscape. This footprint is at the northern edge of a large, unnamed and heavily eroded impact crater. Tyrrhena Terra is heavily cratered and rugged, and is south of Isidis Planitia.

ID: ESP_076984_1795 date: 28 December 2022 altitude: 263 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: Light on Dark

This stunning image shows bright exposed bedrock that might be hydrated, sulfate-rich terrain. This makes the scene one of mineralogic interest earlier identified by the CRISM instrument on MRO, and that previously lacked HiRISE coverage. This footprint is on the western wall of Columbus Crater. The presence of sulfates and clay minerals in sediments within Columbus are strong evidence that a lake once existed here.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_076941_1505 date: 25 December 2022 altitude: 250 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: Landslides in Orson Welles Crater

The chaotic terrains of Orson Welles crater host several small-scale (1 to 2 kilometer) long runout landslides. Understanding the origin of terrains and their link with the development of highly mobile landslides is important to unravel the potential role of ice, or other fluids, and so gaining insights into the geological and climatic evolution of this area. This type of small-scale Martian long runout landslides are great analogues of Icelandic landslides.

ID: ESP_076910_1805 date: 23 December 2022 altitude: 268 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: Cold Dunes, Cold Planet

This observation features dunes at high latitude with frost well into summer. This image footprint is in Planum Boreum at the South Pole of Mars. With this picture, we can acquire repeat observations to track changes over time.

ID: ESP_076979_2650 date: 28 December 2022 altitude: 319 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: Interior Layered Deposits in Candor Chasma

This footprint is located on a slope on the chasma floor that is a little steeper than usual, allowing to visualize the structure of the floor. From Context Camera data, it appears that thin layers are observed on the slope, which indicates that the material is akin to the “lower interior layered deposit” portion. Our image can help us study these deposits in detail.

ID: ESP_076911_1730 date: 23 December 2022 altitude: 264 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

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HiPOD: The Dunes in the Crater

We acquired this image to accomplish several science goals with this dune field within an impact crater: to monitor frost deposition, landscape evolution and sublimation of subsurface ice. Sublimation is what creates the exposed darker material on and around the dunes. This image will also be used for detailed surface measurements.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_076949_2435 date: 26 December 2022 altitude: 312 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona