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| Ultimi arrivi - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) |
Chasma-Ophir_Chasma-PIA17702-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgFeatures of Ophir Chasma (EDM - Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)69 visiteThe really huge Landslides existing along the Walls of Ophir Chasma (which is nothing else but a deep Canyon located in the Coprates Quadrangle of Mars, at about 4° South Latitude and 72,5° West Longitude. It is approx. 317 km long and it was so named after a "Classical Albedo Feature") host a variety of Geologic Surfaces and Mineralogies.
Some of them possess a variety of Hydrated Sulfate Minerals that formed, eons ago, in the presence of Partially Acidic Liquid Water. This NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's Contextual (or "CTX", for short) Image, which is representing an ancient (possibly and approximately 3 Billion Years-old) Landslide, shows us the presence, within it, of 2 (two) very distinct Surface Albedoes, which, in fact, mark a Transition Zone from one Sulfate Mineralogy to another (a circumstance that proves beyod doubts the occurrence, in a far and distant past, of some remarkable variations in the evolution of the visible Surface).
The Upper Slopes (such as the ones located towards the North) are light-toned, and this fact is due to the concurrent abundance of Hydrated Sulfate Minerals and Bright Surface Dust. On the other hand, the Surfaces that make up the Southern Portion of the Landslide, are darker in tone, and this is due to the greater abundance of Dark Sediment that, in time, formed "Strings of Sand Drifts" (extremely well visible in this Extra Detail Magnification). In addition to the above, the underlying Units of Bedrock consist of Darker Minerals that received a lesser hydration then the Northern ones, and this further circumstance implies the occurrence of a strong (and, perhaps, sudden) change in the Ancient Aqueous Environments that formed them.
Mars Local Time: 14:52 (Early Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 4,328° South Lat. and 288,657° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 271,0 Km (such as about 168,291 miles)
Original image scale range: 27,1 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~ 81 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 25 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 6,3°
Phase Angle: 52,7°
Solar Incidence Angle: 47° (meaning that the Sun was about 43° above the Local Horizon at the time the picture was taken)
Solar Longitude: 27,0° (Northern Spring - Southern Fall)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Additional process. and coloring: Lunar Explorer Italia
This picture (which is an Original NASA - Original Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter - False Colors and NON-Map Projected sub-frame identified by the serial n. PSP_007535_1755-1) has been additionally processed, magnified, contrast enhanced, Gamma corrected, and then re-colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.MareKromiumNov 25, 2013
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Chasma-Ophir_Chasma-PSP_007535_1755-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgFeatures of Ophir Chasma (CTX Frame - Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)61 visiteThe really huge Landslides existing along the Walls of Ophir Chasma (which is nothing else but a deep Canyon located in the Coprates Quadrangle of Mars, at about 4° South Latitude and 72,5° West Longitude. It is approx. 317 km long and it was so named after a "Classical Albedo Feature") host a variety of Geologic Surfaces and Mineralogies.
Some of them possess a variety of Hydrated Sulfate Minerals that formed, eons ago, in the presence of Partially Acidic Liquid Water. This NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's Contextual (or "CTX", for short) Image, which is representing an ancient (possibly and approximately 3 Billion Years-old) Landslide, shows us the presence, within it, of 2 (two) very distinct Surface Albedoes, which, in fact, mark a Transition Zone from one Sulfate Mineralogy to another (a circumstance that proves beyod doubts the occurrence, in a far and distant past, of some remarkable variations in the evolution of the visible Surface).
The Upper Slopes (such as the ones located towards the North) are light-toned, and this fact is due to the concurrent abundance of Hydrated Sulfate Minerals and Bright Surface Dust. On the other hand, the Surfaces that make up the Southern Portion of the Landslide, are darker in tone, and this is due to the greater abundance of Dark Sediment that, in time, formed "Strings of Sand Drifts". In addition to the above, the underlying Units of Bedrock consist of Darker Minerals that received a lesser hydration then the Northern ones, and this further circumstance implies the occurrence of a strong (and, perhaps, sudden) change in the Ancient Aqueous Environments that formed them.
Mars Local Time: 14:52 (Early Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 4,328° South Lat. and 288,657° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 271,0 Km (such as about 168,291 miles)
Original image scale range: 27,1 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~ 81 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 25 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 6,3°
Phase Angle: 52,7°
Solar Incidence Angle: 47° (meaning that the Sun was about 43° above the Local Horizon at the time the picture was taken)
Solar Longitude: 27,0° (Northern Spring - Southern Fall)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Additional process. and coloring: Lunar Explorer Italia
This picture (which is a NASA - Original Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter b/w and NON-Map Projected frame identified by the serial n. PSP_007535_1755) has been additionally processed, magnified, contrast enhanced, Gamma corrected, and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.MareKromiumNov 25, 2013
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Chasma-Echus_Chasma-Fractures-ESP_033591_1805-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgFeatures of Echus Chasma (CTX Frame - Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)70 visiteIn this image, we can see a so-called "Intersection Area" created by a number of Fractures (or, perhaps, Fissures and/or Water or Lava-carved narrow Channels) which are all located on the Floor of Echus Chasma (an Equatorial Chasma found in the Lunae Planum High Plateau Region of Mars, slightly to the North of the gigantic Valles Marineris Canyon System, and approx. 100 Km long and 10 Km wide).
Echus Chasma contains several Valleys which range - as far as their depth is concerned - from about 1 to 4 Km, and it is now considered, by Planetary Scientists, to be the Water Source Region that allowed the formation and then the (relevant) water-supply of the Kasei Valles Outflow Channel: a large Valley that extends for thousands of kilometers towards the North of the Red Planet.
Mars Local Time: 14:36 (Early Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 0,377° North Lat. and 279,483° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 269,1 Km (such as about 161,111 miles)
Original image scale range: 53,8 cm/pixel (with 2 x 2 binning) so objects ~ 1 mt and 62 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 50 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 7,7°
Phase Angle: 47,6°
Solar Incidence Angle: 40° (meaning that the Sun was about 50° above the Local Horizon at the time the picture was taken)
Solar Longitude: 27,0° (Northern Spring - Southern Fall)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Additional process. and coloring: Lunar Explorer Italia
This picture (which is a NASA - Original Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter b/w and NON-Map Projected frame identified by the serial n. ESP_033591_1805) has been additionally processed, magnified, contrast enhanced, Gamma corrected, and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.MareKromiumNov 25, 2013
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Chasma-Echus_Chasma-Fractures-PIA17704-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgFeatures of Echus Chasma (EDM - Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)97 visiteIn this Extra Detail Magnification (or "EDM" for short) - taken from an Original NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's False Colors and NON-Map Projected sub-frame -, we can see, with a really great detail, a so-called "Intersection Area" existing between two Fractures (or, perhaps, Fissures and/or Water or Lava-carved narrow Channels) which are both located on the Floor of Echus Chasma (an Equatorial Chasma found in the Lunae Planum High Plateau Region of Mars, slightly to the North of the gigantic Valles Marineris Canyon System, and approx. 100 Km long and 10 Km wide).
Echus Chasma contains several Valleys which range - as far as their depth is concerned - from about 1 to 4 Km, and it is now considered, by Planetary Scientists, to be the Water Source Region that allowed the formation and then the (relevant) water-supply of the Kasei Valles Outflow Channel: a large Valley that extends for thousands of kilometers towards the North of the Red Planet.
Mars Local Time: 14:36 (Early Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 0,377° North Lat. and 279,483° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 269,1 Km (such as about 161,111 miles)
Original image scale range: 53,8 cm/pixel (with 2 x 2 binning) so objects ~ 1 mt and 62 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 50 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 7,7°
Phase Angle: 47,6°
Solar Incidence Angle: 40° (meaning that the Sun was about 50° above the Local Horizon at the time the picture was taken)
Solar Longitude: 27,0° (Northern Spring - Southern Fall)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Additional process. and coloring: Lunar Explorer Italia
This picture (which is a crop taken from a NASA - Original Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter False Colors and NON-Map Projected sub-frame identified by the serial n. ESP_033591_1805-1) has been additionally processed, magnified, contrast enhanced, Gamma corrected, and then re-colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.MareKromiumNov 25, 2013
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Meridiani_Planum-ESP_032098_1785-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgFeatures of Meridiani Planum (Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)85 visiteIn this frame, taken by the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on the date of June, 1st, 2013, we can see a few interesting (although very common) Surface Features which characterize the Meridiani Planum Region of Mars. In particular, we can see an old and (still) Unnamed Impact Crater - with the "usual" Dunefield on its Floor - that is located on the very upper portion of the frame and just below a (relatively) Sand-free section of Surface known as "Martian Paving". Afterwards, moving down towards the South (such as towards the lower portion of the frame), we can find an area where there are many Sand Ripples and a few small Impact Craters. Finally, on the very lowest portion of the picture, we can also see more Sand Ripples, a number of Sand Dunes, several very small Impact Craters and quite a few Rocky Outcrops.
However, the Martian Surface pictured here, in our opinion (as IPF), and contrary to the common idea of how the Meridiani Planum Region of Mars is - generally - characterized and known (such as an almost totally plain and reliefs-free Region), is really far from being flat at all: as a matter of fact, if you observe the picture carefully, you will be able to notice that the whole area which has been photographed by the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (and, particularly, the area visible in the central and lower portion of the frame - meaning the one located to the South of the main visible Feature, such as the Unnamed Impact Crater) appears to show several points of Subsidence, a few Ridges and some (most likely very short and small) Hillocks.
Mars Local Time: 14:09 (Early Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 1,584° South Lat. and 3,132° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 268,9 Km (such as about 166,986 miles)
Original image scale range: 26,9 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~ 81 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 25 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 0,0°
Phase Angle: 34,0°
Solar Incidence Angle: 34° (meaning that the Sun was about 56° above the Local Horizon at the time the picture was taken)
Solar Longitude: 328,5° (Northern Winter - Southern Summer)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Additional process. and coloring: Lunar Explorer Italia
This picturee (which is a NASA - Original Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter NON-Map Projected b/w frame identified by the serial n. ESP_032098_1785) has been additionally processed and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.MareKromiumLug 14, 2013
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ESP_032097_1810-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgEquatorial Dunefield (Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color. Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)118 visiteMars Local Time: 14:08 (Early Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 1,068° North Lat. and 30,111° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 268,9 Km (such as about 166,986 miles)
Original image scale range: 53,8 cm/pixel (with 2 x 2 binning) so objects ~ 1 mt and 61 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 50 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 0,0°
Phase Angle: 34,9°
Solar Incidence Angle: 35° (meaning that the Sun was about 55° above the Local Horizon at the time the picture was taken)
Solar Longitude: 328,5° (Northern Winter - Southern Summer)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Additional process. and coloring: Lunar Explorer Italia
This picture (which is a NASA - Original Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter NON-Map Projected CTX b/w frame identified by the serial n. ESP_032097_1810) has been additionally processed and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.MareKromiumLug 14, 2013
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ESP_027758_1530-1-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgWater-Ice in a Chlorite-bearing Escarpment in North/Western Hellas Planitia (CTX Fframe and EDM - Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)87 visiteA South-facing Escarpment located in the North/Western part of the Martian Region known as Hellas Planitia (a target that was chosen for the research of Phyllosilicates) showed us the presence, inside the Rocks (---> mostly in their horizontal cracks) forming it, of a pale bluish Material, barely visible in this Absolute Natural Color image. The CRISM Spectra of such Material showed that it consists of a combination of Chlorite and Water Ice. This image was captured by the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter during the Southern Martian Winter, such as in the time period when the Southern Hemisphere's South-facing Escarpments (just like this one) of the Red Planet retain Water Ice Deposits that formed during that dark, long and extremely cold Season.
Mars Local Time: 15:36 (Middle Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 26,501° South Lat. and 55,094° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 268,2 Km (such as about 166,552 miles)
Original image scale range: 26,8 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~ 80 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 25 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 18,0°
Phase Angle: 56,7°
Solar Incidence Angle: 69° (meaning that the Sun was about 21° above the Local Horizon at the time the picture was taken)
Solar Longitude: 131,4° (Northern Summer - Southern Winter)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Additional process. and coloring: Lunar Explorer Italia
This picture (which is a NASA - Original Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter NON-Map Projected false color EDM frame identified by the serial n. ESP_027758_1530-1) has been additionally processed, magnified to aid the visibility of the details, contrast enhanced and then re-colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.MareKromiumMag 26, 2013
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ESP_027758_1530-2-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgWater-Ice in a Chlorite-bearing Escarpment in North/Western Hellas Planitia (EDM - Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)104 visiteA South-facing Escarpment located in the North/Western part of the Martian Region known as Hellas Planitia (a target that was chosen for the research of Phyllosilicates) showed us the presence, inside the Rocks (---> mostly in their horizontal cracks) forming it, of a pale bluish Material, barely visible in this Absolute Natural Color image. The CRISM Spectra of such Material showed that it consists of a combination of Chlorite and Water Ice. This image was captured by the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter during the Southern Martian Winter, such as in the time period when the Southern Hemisphere's South-facing Escarpments (just like this one) of the Red Planet retain Water Ice Deposits that formed during that dark, long and extremely cold Season.
Mars Local Time: 15:36 (Middle Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 26,501° South Lat. and 55,094° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 268,2 Km (such as about 166,552 miles)
Original image scale range: 26,8 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~ 80 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 25 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 18,0°
Phase Angle: 56,7°
Solar Incidence Angle: 69° (meaning that the Sun was about 21° above the Local Horizon at the time the picture was taken)
Solar Longitude: 131,4° (Northern Summer - Southern Winter)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Additional process. and coloring: Lunar Explorer Italia
This picture (which is a NASA - Original Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter NON-Map Projected false color EDM frame identified by the serial n. ESP_027758_1530-1) has been additionally processed, magnified to aid the visibility of the details, contrast enhanced and then re-colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.MareKromiumMag 26, 2013
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Craters-Unnamed_Craters-ESP_031292_1295-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgUnnamed Craters in Hellas Planitia (Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)73 visiteIn this frame, taken by the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on March, 30, 2013 and showing us a small portion of the Southern Martian Region known as Hellas Planitia, we can see - litterally lost in a "Sea" of Sand that has also been heavily marked by the passage of a countless number of Dust Devils - two relatively small Unnamed Impact Craters which are going through two very different (and very distant, in terms of time) moments of their evolution.
Barely visible, on the left (Sx) side of the picture, there is an extremely old and now almost completely "Buried Impact Crater", whose Rim, however, can still be discerned from the surrounding landscape; on the right (Dx) side of the frame, instead, a way more recent Unnamed Impact Crater that shows a very well defined (and therefore - of course, always relatively speaking - "fresh") Rim, with signs of a Landslide, that has occurred on its Inner Southern Slope, and also with what appears to be just a hint of a light-colored Windstreak on its Northern Outer Rim. Also a few Gullies can be spotted in several locations of the Inner Slopes of the Crater (particularly on its North-facing Inner Rim and Slope).
Mars Local Time: 14:37 (Early Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 50,284° South Lat. and 54,671° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 255,9 Km (such as about 158,913 miles)
Original image scale range: 51,2 cm/pixel (with 2 x 2 binning) so objects ~ 1 mt and 54 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 50 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 1,6°
Phase Angle: 42,2°
Solar Incidence Angle: 41° (meaning that the Sun was about 49° above the Local Horizon at the time the picture was taken)
Solar Longitude: 292,3° (Northern Winter - Southern Summer)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Additional process. and coloring: Lunar Explorer Italia
This picture (which has been cropped from a NASA - Original Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter NON-Map Projected CTX b/w frame identified by the serial n. ESP_031292_1295) has also been additionally processed and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars - Region of Hellas Planitia), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.MareKromiumMag 14, 2013
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Craters-Unnamed_Crater-ESP_017975_1705-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgUnnamed Crater with Ridges (Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)67 visiteMars Local Time: 15:20 (Early Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 9,515° South Lat. and 16,433° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 261,3 Km (such as about 162,267 miles)
Original image scale range: 52,3 cm/pixel (with 2 x 2 binning) so objects ~ 1 mt and 57 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 50 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 0,7°
Phase Angle: 60,4°
Solar Incidence Angle: 60° (meaning that the Sun was about 30° above the Local Horizon at the time the picture was taken)
Solar Longitude: 96,6° (Northern Summer - Southern Winter)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Additional process. and coloring: Lunar Explorer Italia
This picture (which is a NASA - Original Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter NON-Map Projected CTX b/w frame identified by the serial n. ESP_025557_1705) has been additionally processed and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.MareKromiumMag 14, 2013
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ESP_031268_2115-PCF-LXTT-IPF-0.jpgUnusually-looking Surface Feature (CTX Frame - Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)61 visiteThis image, taken by the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on March 28, 2013, shows us a number of shallow and Irregular Pit-like Features with Raised Rims, all concentrated along Ridges and other Topographic Features (---> Surface Reliefs). How did these unusually-looking Surface Features form? One idea is that they could be the final and visible result of the Sublimation of shallow lenses of nearly pure Ice but, even assuming that this theory is correct, why do the Pits have Raised Rims? So far, nobody was good enough to answer to that question.
If we keep reasoning about the possible nature of these Surface Features, we also have to say that they cannot - reasonably - be just shallow Impact Craters, because such an alignment seems extremely unlikely (and the irregular margins of the alleged "Impact Craters" would be even harder to explain); furthermore, these Landforms cannot even be Wind-blown Deposits of Material because, all the way next to them, can be seen very many Boulders which are way too big (and therefore too heavy!) to be moved simply by the Wind.
As you can see, there are younger Wind-blown Drifts on top of the Pits and, for the time being, we have not found a clear (---> substantiated) connection between these Landforms and some possible Volcanic Phenomenon. However, a few Planetary Scientists speculated that there might have been ancient Oceans over this Region, but could this possibility, even if it is correct, somehow be good to satisfactorily explain these Features? The answer is no. Last, but not least, what we see in this frame could also be the result of an ancient Glaciation where, perhaps, powerful Winds deposited Ice-rich Debris next to Topographic Obstacles.
Future (and closer) images of this Region may provide us with more clues but, for now, this Landforms are still a mystery. Just one of the many, of course...
Mars Local Time: 14:20 (Early Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 30,959° North Lat. and 339,402° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 293,8 Km (such as about 182,449 miles)
Original image scale range: 58,8 cm/pixel (with 2 x 2 binning) so objects ~ 1 mt and 76 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 50 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 2,6°
Phase Angle: 62,5°
Solar Incidence Angle: 64° (meaning that the Sun was about 26° above the Local Horizon at the time the picture was taken)
Solar Longitude: 290,8° (Northern Winter - Southern Summer)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Additional process. and coloring: Lunar Explorer Italia
This picture (which is a NASA - Original Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter NON-Map Projected EDM b/w frame identified by the serial n. ESP_031268_2115-1) has been additionally processed and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.MareKromiumMag 14, 2013
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ESP_031268_2115-PCF-LXTT-IPF-1.jpgUnusually-looking Surface Feature (EDM - Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)56 visiteThis image, taken by the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on March 28, 2013, shows us a number of shallow and Irregular Pit-like Features with Raised Rims, all concentrated along Ridges and other Topographic Features (---> Surface Reliefs). How did these unusually-looking Surface Features form? One idea is that they could be the final and visible result of the Sublimation of shallow lenses of nearly pure Ice but, even assuming that this theory is correct, why do the Pits have Raised Rims? So far, nobody was good enough to answer to that question.
If we keep reasoning about the possible nature of these Surface Features, we also have to say that they cannot - reasonably - be just shallow Impact Craters, because such an alignment seems extremely unlikely (and the irregular margins of the alleged "Impact Craters" would be even harder to explain); furthermore, these Landforms cannot even be Wind-blown Deposits of Material because, all the way next to them, can be seen very many Boulders which are way too big (and therefore too heavy!) to be moved simply by the Wind.
As you can see, there are younger Wind-blown Drifts on top of the Pits and, for the time being, we have not found a clear (---> substantiated) connection between these Landforms and some possible Volcanic Phenomenon. However, a few Planetary Scientists speculated that there might have been ancient Oceans over this Region, but could this possibility, even if it is correct, somehow be good to satisfactorily explain these Features? The answer is no. Last, but not least, what we see in this frame could also be the result of an ancient Glaciation where, perhaps, powerful Winds deposited Ice-rich Debris next to Topographic Obstacles.
Future (and closer) images of this Region may provide us with more clues but, for now, this Landforms are still a mystery. Just one of the many, of course...
Mars Local Time: 14:20 (Early Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 30,959° North Lat. and 339,402° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 293,8 Km (such as about 182,449 miles)
Original image scale range: 58,8 cm/pixel (with 2 x 2 binning) so objects ~ 1 mt and 76 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 50 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 2,6°
Phase Angle: 62,5°
Solar Incidence Angle: 64° (meaning that the Sun was about 26° above the Local Horizon at the time the picture was taken)
Solar Longitude: 290,8° (Northern Winter - Southern Summer)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Additional process. and coloring: Lunar Explorer Italia
This picture (which is a NASA - Original Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter NON-Map Projected EDM b/w frame identified by the serial n. ESP_031268_2115-1) has been additionally processed and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.MareKromiumMag 14, 2013
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