UAHiRISE (NASA MRO)

Breccia is a rock typically consisting of rock fragments of various sizes and shapes that have been broken, tumbled and cemented together in sudden geologic event (e.g., a landslide, a flash flood or even an impact-cratering event). The prefix “mega” implies that the breccia consists of clasts, or rock fragments, that are typically bigger than a large house or a building. This image is located within Holden Crater. Holden likely experienced extensive modification by running water, which is supported by observations of drainage and deposition into the crater from a large channel (Uzboi Valles) breaching crater’s southwest rim. This is a non-narrated clip. Image is less than 5 km (or 3 mi) across. For images including scale bars, see the below website link. Music: “Melissa,” by Eveningland (used by permission). NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_056943_1525 #Mars #science

In a Context Camera image, there appear to be large recurring slope lineae (RSL) emanating from a particular layer, and a high resolution image is worth a look for better details. RSL are interesting because the precise active process that creates them is still unknown. It was previously thought these could be from briny flows, but further research indicates these might be mass movement of dry material instead (though *not* otherwise an avalanche). Ganges Chasma is part of the Valles Marineris canyon system. This is a non-narrated clip, less than 5 km across. For full image information, see the below website link. Music: “Calmant - Calming” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100859 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_056917_1735 #Mars #science

Based on other camera images (notably the Mars Orbiter Camera and MRO’s Context Camera) there is a terrific lava flow here that overlies light-toned, layered rock. It’s good evidence that volcanism occurred somewhere nearby in the Meridiani region. Was there any alteration (baking?) of the underling light-toned rock as the lava flow covered it? Was there water present in the rock when the lava flow was emplaced? This observation is located west of Miyamoto Crater and Meridiani Planum. This is a non-narrated clip, using the center enhanced color swath of the full observation. Image is less than 1 km top to bottom and north is to the right. For full images including scale bars, see the below link. Music: “Length of Light,” by Amulets (used by permission). NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_011752_1805 #Mars #science

Coprates Chasma is located at the eastern end of the Valles Marineris canyon system, and always provides fantastic-looking images. This observation shows very steep slopes on the wall of the chasma, with extensive sedimentary fans. Additionally, we see thick layers of bedrock. The chasma is about 966 kilometers (600 miles) in length. Could there have been a lake here in the ancient past? This is a non-narrated clip. Black and white is less than 5 km across; enhanced color is less than 1 km. For full images including scale bars, see the below link. Music: “In the Void” by Amulets (used by permission). NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_062641_1695 #Mars #science

The objective of this observation is to determine the nature of a large field of cones just outside a crater’s ejecta. Many of the cones have pits. Their formation may have something to do with the ejecta heating the ground and turning ice into steam. This scene is in the mid-latitudes of Mars. The enhanced color image is less than 1 km top to bottom, and north is to the right. For full images including scale bars, see the below link. This is a non-narrated clip. Music: “It Maintains, Eyes Change” by Puddle of Infinity (used by permission). NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_040775_2235 #Mars #science

A Context Camera image shows sinuous ridges and possible layers at this location, which is within an alluvial-fan-bearing crater. One possible interpretation: erosion has formed inverted channels and incised into distal-alluvial-fan or deltaic materials. HiRISE resolution needed to measure channel widths and layer orientations. The ridges remain fairly sharp-looking despite the passing of time. The blueish sand is likely basalt (volcanic origin) and there are bright exposure of bedrock throughout. This is a non-narrated clip, using the center enhanced color swath, less than 1 km across, and 257 km above the surface. For full images including scale bars, see the below link. Music: “Highway One” by Steve Adams (used by permission). NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_065711_1545 #Mars #science

Here we see a wrinkle ridge that divides a channel to its northwest from a series of collapse pits. The scene is surrounded by old lava flows in Elysium Planitia. The collapse pits are very interesting because their elongate shapes and their sourcing of incised channels reworked by viscous flows have obvious similarities to larger channels such as Athabasca, Marte, and Kasei Valles, yet they are considerably smaller in scale. By studying the same geologic process at different scales, we can understand it more fully. (Note: in this clip, north is to the left.) This is a non-narrated clip. Image is less than 5 km (3 mi) top to bottom. For full images including scale bars, see the below link. Music: “Growing Space” by Astron (used by permission). NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_016572_1875 #Mars #science

“Hic sunt dracones” is the Latin phrase for the prosaic “Here be dragons” that was often thought to have appeared on medieval maps, although it’s only attested in one place. It’s associated with dangerous or unexplored territories*. In our image, a craggy ridge of rock has formed through small, innumerable landslides along the sides of a large mound. The feathery deposits that blanket and surround this ridge formed as the rock broke up and flowed down off it. Overall, the landform looks like the tail of a dragon. Music: “Oceans, Rivers, Canyons” by ELPHNT (used by permission). (*The actual classical phrase was “Here be lions,” denoting the same thing.) This is a non-narrated clip. Image is less than 5 km (3 miles) across. For full images including scale bars, see the below link. NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_016185_1740 #Mars #science

There is a potential for the formation of hydrothermal deposits and impactites in this area that represents a possible target for direct investigation by a future rover. Material here could also be transported into the fan by fluvial processes or as ejecta from small impacts on the crater rim. Hydrothermal deposits may represent evidence for a habitable environment on Mars. Holden Crater was once a possible landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory that is currently in Gale Crater. This is a non-narrated clip. (Less than 5 km, or 3 miles, across. For more information including images with scale bars, see the below link.) Music: “Destination Unknown” by Ugonna Onyekwe (used by permission). NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_022513_1535 #Mars #science

A perennial favorite area of ours to image because of the stunning rock formations that look fantastic in enhanced color. Arabia Terra may have aqueously-altered bedrock although most of surface is covered by dust, so we need to check out the rare dust-free spots. This is a non-narrated clip. (Less than 1 km, or .62 miles, across. For more information including images with scale bars, see the below link.) Music: “Eureka” by Huma-Huma (used by permission). NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_013941_2085 #Mars #science

Melas Chasma (within Valles Marineris) sinks about 9 kilometers into the Martian landscape, and remains an enigmatic region where water might have flowed. This observation is several kilometers south of there, and the presence of hydrated silica indicates an interaction of water with rocks. Hydrated silica is found in a variety of Martian deposits, and could be a useful tracer mineral across different epochs of time in Martian geological history that can represent varying amounts of water. Follow the water, indeed! This is a non-narrated clip, using the enhanced color center swath of the full observation, about 1 kilometer across. (For images with scalebars, see the below link.) Music: “Eternal Garden” by Dan Henig (used by permission). NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_013838_1695 #Mars #science

Aram Chaos on Mars is a heavily eroded impact crater at the eastern end of the Valles Marineris canyon system. Over epochs, different geological processes have reduced it to circular area of chaotic terrain. (This is a non-narrated clip using the false color center swath of the observation. Less than 1 km top to bottom and north is to the right. For full image with scalebars, see the below link.) Music: “Soft Blossom,” by ann annie (Used by permission). NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_012860_1830 #Mars #science

Infrared images from the THEMIS instrument shows “glowing terrain”, interpreted as chlorides. The CRISM instrument (on MRO) also shows iron-magnesium clays over a several kilometer-wide area, which is bright in nighttime infrared. Meridiani Planum (where this image was acquired) has shown to be a diverse and scientifically interesting region of Mars. It’s where the rover Opportunity landed and explored for several years. This is a non-narrated clip. For full image with scalebars, please see the below link. Music: “Heads Up” by the 126ers. (Used by permission.) NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_012741_1750 #Mars #science

These ridges and channels are in a light-toned unit near Nirgal Vallis on Mars. The ridges are very well exposed at this location. The unit contains inverted craters, which are uncommon. This is plausibly a water-altered ash deposit emanating from the fissure to the northeast. (This is a non-narrated clip.) Music: “Rage” by the 126ers. (Used by permission.) NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_057537_1540 (Less than 5 km across. For scalebars, see the above website link.)

A densely layered ridge within a large impact crater is the focus of this clip. In addition to the layers, we see other bedrock, dunes, and even smaller impact craters in enhanced color. This observation was acquired to take a look at wrinkle ridges in east Meridiani Planum. (This is a non-narrated clip in enhanced color, less than 1 km across.) Music: “Pure Potentiality” by Benjamin Marks (used by permission) NASA/JPL/UArizona For full image and images with scale bars, please visit: https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_020138_1845

There are wonderful landforms here in Nili Fossae, which was once a candidate landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory. A detailed look here can help to determine any interaction with sulfates that have been detected here with surrounding terrain. This is a non-narrated clip. Less than 5 km across. Music: “A Face in a Cloud” by Nathan Moore (used by permission). NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_047194_1965

These layered geological units are in northwest Hellas Planitia (Mars), part of an embaying pitted deposit present in the region. Layers here can be traced around escarpments and may allow us to perform dip measurements with digital terrain models. (This is a non-narrated clip, less than 5 km across.) Music: “The Blue Pearl” by Jesse Gallagher (used by permission). NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_042487_1530 #Mars #science

These layered units are part of embayed pitted deposits in this area. Examining the textures and bedding is also part of the rationale for this observation. (Less than 5 km top to bottom and north is to the right. This is a non-narrated clip.) Music: “Asterism” by Underbelly. (Used by permission.) NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_039863_1510

Hydrothermal processes might have been present here at one point in the ancient past, so might there be traces of water? This image (in Libya Montes) is located on the southern rim of the impact crater, which also has a large central peak. We can see a variety of formations (dunes, outcrops) in this image. The terrain in Libya Montes was likely uplifted by the impact that created the Isidis basin to the north. (Less than 5 km across. For images with scalebars, see the link below.) Music: “Growing Space” by Astron. NASA/JPL/UArizona https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_028930_1785

Every Martian spring, fans of dust are blown out from under the seasonal layer of carbon dioxide ice that forms a polar cap over the winter. (Narration: www.tregibbs.com. Black and white images are 5 km across; enhanced color images are 1 km.) NASA/JPL/UArizona https://uahirise.org/ESP_064469_0945