Jezero Crater Delta (THEMIS_IOTD_20231205a)
On the left side of today's VIS image is the Jezero Crater delta deposit. This feature was created by the flow from the rim channel into the crater. Deltas form when sediments settle out due to a decrease in speed of a river system. Deltas often form where large rivers flow into the ocean, like the Mississippi and Nile deltas. This can also occur where rivers flow into large lakes, such as the Great Salt Lake and Lake St. Clair river deltas. It is believed that the Jezero Crater delta formed this way. Jezero Crater is the home of the Mars 2020 rover - Perseverance - and its little helicopter buddy - Ingenuity. The Mars 2020 mission is focused on the delta, and the information it holds about a time when Mars was much wetter.
This martian scene spans 18 x 67 kilometers (11 x 42 miles). To see where on Mars this area lies, and to download high-resolution versions of the image go to themis.asu.edu/zoom-20231205a
See the Red Planet Report at redplanet.asu.edu for updates on Mars research and exploration. For more about Mars geology, check out the Mars-ePedia: marsed.asu.edu/marsepedia
For the latest THEMIS Mars images as received by mission scientists, see themis.asu.edu/livefrommars. To learn more about the THEMIS camera and its Mars images, see themis.asu.edu
This image is in the public domain and may be republished free of charge. If used, please credit it as NASA/JPL-Caltech/Arizona State University.
Jezero Crater Delta (THEMIS_IOTD_20231205a)
On the left side of today's VIS image is the Jezero Crater delta deposit. This feature was created by the flow from the rim channel into the crater. Deltas form when sediments settle out due to a decrease in speed of a river system. Deltas often form where large rivers flow into the ocean, like the Mississippi and Nile deltas. This can also occur where rivers flow into large lakes, such as the Great Salt Lake and Lake St. Clair river deltas. It is believed that the Jezero Crater delta formed this way. Jezero Crater is the home of the Mars 2020 rover - Perseverance - and its little helicopter buddy - Ingenuity. The Mars 2020 mission is focused on the delta, and the information it holds about a time when Mars was much wetter.
This martian scene spans 18 x 67 kilometers (11 x 42 miles). To see where on Mars this area lies, and to download high-resolution versions of the image go to themis.asu.edu/zoom-20231205a
See the Red Planet Report at redplanet.asu.edu for updates on Mars research and exploration. For more about Mars geology, check out the Mars-ePedia: marsed.asu.edu/marsepedia
For the latest THEMIS Mars images as received by mission scientists, see themis.asu.edu/livefrommars. To learn more about the THEMIS camera and its Mars images, see themis.asu.edu
This image is in the public domain and may be republished free of charge. If used, please credit it as NASA/JPL-Caltech/Arizona State University.