Topographically directed winds in Rabe Crater (THEMIS_IOTD_20171215)
This VIS image provides another instance where the topography of the upper floor material affects the winds and dune formation. At the edges of the dune field, the dunes become smaller and more separated, revealing the harder surface that the dunes are moving across.
Rabe Crater is 108 km (67 miles) across. Craters of similar size often have flat floors. Rabe Crater has some areas of flat floor, but also has a large complex pit occupying a substantial part of the floor.
The interior fill of the crater is thought to be layered sediments created by wind and or water action. The pit is eroded into this material. The eroded materials appear to have stayed within the crater forming a large sand sheet with surface dune forms as well as individual dunes where the crater floor is visible. The dunes also appear to be moving from the upper floor level into the pit.
This martian scene spans 17 x 62 kilometers (11 x 38 miles). To see where on Mars this area lies, and to download high-resolution versions of the image, go to bit.ly/2yEw1Tz
See the Red Planet Report at bit.ly/14KXe4O for updates on Mars research and exploration. For more about Mars geology, check out the Mars-ePedia: bit.ly/1fnXbhw
For the latest THEMIS Mars images as received by mission scientists, see bit.ly/1d6HA7o . To learn more about the THEMIS camera and its Mars images, see bit.ly/13YOfgm .
This image is in the public domain and may be republished free of charge, but if used it should be credited as NASA/JPL-Caltech/Arizona State University.
NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft has spent over 15 years in orbit around Mars, circling the planet more than 69,000 times. It holds the record for longest working spacecraft at Mars. THEMIS, the IR/VIS camera system, has collected data for the entire mission and provides images covering all seasons and lighting conditions.
Over the years many features of interest have received repeated imaging, building up a suite of images covering the entire feature. From the deepest chasma to the tallest volcano, individual dunes inside craters and dune fields that encircle the north pole, channels carved by water and lava, and a variety of other feature, THEMIS has imaged them all.
For the next several months the image of the day will focus on the Tharsis volcanoes, the various chasmata of Valles Marineris, and the major dunes fields. We hope you enjoy these images!
Topographically directed winds in Rabe Crater (THEMIS_IOTD_20171215)
This VIS image provides another instance where the topography of the upper floor material affects the winds and dune formation. At the edges of the dune field, the dunes become smaller and more separated, revealing the harder surface that the dunes are moving across.
Rabe Crater is 108 km (67 miles) across. Craters of similar size often have flat floors. Rabe Crater has some areas of flat floor, but also has a large complex pit occupying a substantial part of the floor.
The interior fill of the crater is thought to be layered sediments created by wind and or water action. The pit is eroded into this material. The eroded materials appear to have stayed within the crater forming a large sand sheet with surface dune forms as well as individual dunes where the crater floor is visible. The dunes also appear to be moving from the upper floor level into the pit.
This martian scene spans 17 x 62 kilometers (11 x 38 miles). To see where on Mars this area lies, and to download high-resolution versions of the image, go to bit.ly/2yEw1Tz
See the Red Planet Report at bit.ly/14KXe4O for updates on Mars research and exploration. For more about Mars geology, check out the Mars-ePedia: bit.ly/1fnXbhw
For the latest THEMIS Mars images as received by mission scientists, see bit.ly/1d6HA7o . To learn more about the THEMIS camera and its Mars images, see bit.ly/13YOfgm .
This image is in the public domain and may be republished free of charge, but if used it should be credited as NASA/JPL-Caltech/Arizona State University.
NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft has spent over 15 years in orbit around Mars, circling the planet more than 69,000 times. It holds the record for longest working spacecraft at Mars. THEMIS, the IR/VIS camera system, has collected data for the entire mission and provides images covering all seasons and lighting conditions.
Over the years many features of interest have received repeated imaging, building up a suite of images covering the entire feature. From the deepest chasma to the tallest volcano, individual dunes inside craters and dune fields that encircle the north pole, channels carved by water and lava, and a variety of other feature, THEMIS has imaged them all.
For the next several months the image of the day will focus on the Tharsis volcanoes, the various chasmata of Valles Marineris, and the major dunes fields. We hope you enjoy these images!