Mars Geological Features

High-resolution imagery of Martian landscapes, showcasing craters, lava flows, and valleys. The images exhibit a gray scale, highlighting surface textures and geological formations.

Channels

Cerulli Crater

Small Scale Features

Lava flows near the margin of Daedalia Planum are seen in this image from NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft.

Auqakuh Vallis

The channel in this image is called Havel Vallis, as seen by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft.

Channels

Do you see what I see in this image from NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft Mickey Mouse is really getting around on Mars, here's his head again!

Dark slope streaks mark this crater rim in this image taken by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey. The crater is located within the much larger Tikhonravov Crater in Arabia Terra.

This image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows a short section of Reull Vallis.

Today's VIS image is located along the northern margin of Terra Sirenum. This unnamed channel contains a small channel within a larger channel. This would indicate two separate channel forming events. The inner one has eroded into the center of the larger channel, and was therefore created after the larger channel. Orbit Number 70337 Latitude -8.01257 Longitude 192.647 Instrument VIS Captured 2017-10-22 15 35

Today's VIS image shows unnamed craters in Terra Sirenum. Orbit Number 68429 Latitude -40.8094 Longitude 196.569 Instrument VIS Captured 2017-05-18 10 31

This VIS image is located on plains between Terra Sabaea and Utopia Planitia. In this region craters and other depressions have sharp, narrow margins and rims. Orbit Number 77214 Latitude 36.3388 Longitude 78.7687 Instrument VIS Captured 2019-05-12 02 43

Several landslide deposits are visible in this image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft of an unnamed crater in Terra Cimmeria.

This landslide was formed when part of the channel wall collapsed. This image shows part of Kasei Vallis

. Out of Round. Today's VIS image shows part of a crater and its ejecta. Located in Noachis Terra, this impact crater is not the typical round shape. Instead, the rim has scallops and indentations. In most instances it is heterogeneities in the preexisting surface that deflect the impact energies and create 'out of round' craters. Tectonic faults are just one of the subsurface features capable of causing non-round craters. Orbit Number 91604 Latitude -45.6956 Longitude 25.6058 Instrument VIS Captured 2022-08-08 23 16

This image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows a region of small isolated dunes on the floor of an unnamed crater in Terra Cimmeria.

The southern rim of this unnamed crater in Tempe Terra is dissected by numerous gullies in this image captured by NASA's Mars Odyssey.

This images shows a wind eroded portion of Lycus Sulci, a region of ridges and valleys west of Olympus Mons

This image is located southeast of the region of the large sand dune deposit. Here there is still limited amounts of available sand and the dunes formed are smaller individual features. The rocky floor of the crater is visible between the dunes. In some places the floor is relatively free of hills and mesas, while other locations are dense with features. The hills and mesas in the crater can range up to several hundreds of meters tall. Located in eastern Arabia is an unnamed crater, 120 kilometers (75 miles) across. The floor of this crater contains a large exposure of rocky material, a field of dark sand dunes, and numerous patches of what is probably fine-grain sand. The shape of the dunes indicate that prevailing winds have come from different directions over the years. The Odyssey spacecraft has spent over 15 years in orbit around Mars, circling the planet more than 71,000 times. It holds the record for longest working spacecraft at Mars. THEMIS, the IR/VIS camera system, has colle

The channel in today's VIS image is called Auqakuh Vallis and is located in northern Terra Sabaea. Large channels on Mars are named for the word mars/star in different languages on Earth, small channels are named for rivers on Earth. Auqakuh is the word mars in Quechua (Inca). Orbit Number 80122 Latitude 31.0234 Longitude 60.4953 Instrument VIS Captured 2020-01-06 13 42

This image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows a small portion of Olympica Fossae. Olympica Fossae is located on volcanic plains between Alba Mons and Olympus Mons.

The bottom of this image shows the hills and mesas within the crater. The dunes at the top of the image are engulfing and covering the hills. In some locations the hills are still a substantial obstacle to the wind. In these cases the wind is blowing sand up against the windward side, but the hill is causing chaotic wind flow around the hill and rather than depositing sand, the wind is actually removing sand on the leeward side of the hill. With continued winds and sand movement the deposition of material will eventually build up along the leeward side of the hill and then engulf the hill on all sides. Located in eastern Arabia is an unnamed crater, 120 kilometers (75 miles) across. The floor of this crater contains a large exposure of rocky material, a field of dark sand dunes, and numerous patches of what is probably fine-grain sand. The shape of the dunes indicate that prevailing winds have come from different directions over the years. The Odyssey spacecraft has spent over 15 years

This image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows the southern rim of Lockyer Crater and part of its ejecta blanket.

Crater Interior

The small channel in this image from NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft runs semi-parallel to Shalbatana Vallis in Xanthe Terra.

These dark streaks show where dust has been moving down the rim of the unnamed crater

Linear ridges are located in the topographic lows just north of Meridiani Planum in this image from NASA's Mars Odyssey.

The two dark windstreaks in this image from NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft are located on the extensive lava plains of Daedalia Planum.

Today's VIS image shows an interesting sand dune on the floor of an unnamed crater in Terra Sabaea. With close inspection, multiple dust devil tracks are visible along the margins of the dune. Orbit Number 79049 Latitude 26.1914 Longitude 57.0391 Instrument VIS Captured 2019-10-10 05 14

The dunes in this image taken by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft are located on the floor of Herschel Crater.

This image of an area south of Olympus Mons shows a region where the wind has been an active agent in modifying the surface. Small linear dunes cover the surface in this image taken by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft.

This image from NASA's Mars Odyssey shows a portion of the northeastern flank of Pavonis Mons, one of the large Tharsis volcanoes.

This small landslide deposit is located in an unnamed crater in Margaritifer Terra in this image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft.

The linear depressions in this VIS image are part of Sirenum Fossae. These depressions are called graben, which form by the down drop of material between two parallel faults. The faults are caused by extensional tectonic stresses in the region. The fossae are 2735km long (1700 miles). Orbit Number 83512 Latitude -37.4693 Longitude 191.543 Instrument VIS Captured 2020-10-11 16 26

Today's VIS image shows a small portion of the immense lava plains of Daedalia Planum. These flows originated from Arsia Mons, one of the three large Tharsis volcanoes. Orbit Number 75238 Latitude -19.446 Longitude 221.612 Instrument VIS Captured 2018-11-30 08 56

This image from NASA's Mars Odyssey shows a short section of Naktong Vallis.

$The channel-like features in image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft are fracture sets related to the formation of Iani Chaos, which occurs directly north of the image.$

This VIS image shows an unnamed channel in Terra Cimmeria. The channel is located immediately outside of the rim of Knobel Crater. Orbit Number 77674 Latitude -5.54225 Longitude 132.393 Instrument VIS Captured 2019-06-18 23 37

The slumping of materials in the walls of this impact crater imaged by NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft illustrates the continued erosion of the Martian surface. Small fans of debris as well as larger landslides are observed throughout the image.

Landslides

Channels

$Today's VIS image shows an unnamed crater in Tartarus Colles. The crater floor has been modified by several processes, creating the mounded and fractured features. Layering in the small upper crater suggested that standing water played a part in the modifications. Orbit Number 95130 Latitude 12.8101 Longitude 174.875 Instrument VIS Captured 2023-05-26 07 26$

This image of Baltisk Crater shows a sand sheet on the crater floor and channels dissecting the outer rim as seen by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft.

Crenulated Lava Flows of Daedalia Planum

This image from NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows Granicus Vallis, which is located northwest of the Elysium volcanic complex and may owe its origin to the interaction of volcanic heating and subsurface ground ice.

This VIS image shows several dark slope streaks on the inner rim of an unnamed crater in Terra Sabaea. These features are thought to be formed by downslope movement of material the removes some of the surface dust, revealing the darker rock beneath. The channel to the north of the crater is Indus Vallis. Orbit Number 68696 Latitude 18.7889 Longitude 40.4151 Instrument VIS Captured 2017-06-09 10 50

The ejecta of this unnamed crater in Amazonis Planitia is more resistant than the material around it in this image taken by NASA's Mars Odyssey.

The channels in this VIS image are part of Nili Fossae. Nili Fossae is a collection of curved faults and down-dropped blocks of crust between the faults (called graben). The graben lie northeast of the large volcano Syrtis Major and northwest of the ancient impact basin Isidis Planitia. The graben make concentric curves that follow the outline of Isidis Planitia; the faults likely formed as the crust sagged under the weight of lava flows filling the Isidis basin. Orbit Number 79485 Latitude 25.7316 Longitude 78.4041 Instrument VIS Captured 2019-11-15 02 51

At the upper part of this VIS image is one of the graben that comprise Amenthes Fossae. Graben are formed when a block of material drops downward between paired tectonic faults. Amenthes Fossae are located on both sides of Amenthes Planum. Orbit Number 79085 Latitude 9.14503 Longitude 100.803 Instrument VIS Captured 2019-10-13 04 17

The layering of material observed at the bottom of this impact crater imaged by NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft suggests multiple depositional and erosional episodes in a changing environment.

This VIS image is located at the northern end of Gordii Dorsum, where the surface slopes down into southern Amazonis Planitia. Within this image are several different surfaces and textures. At the top left of the image (ignoring the very tip) moving down towards the larger depression there are three different surfaces. There are two small, discontinuous ridges that parallel the depression that divide the three surfaces from each other. At the top the surface is uniformly wave like, in the middle, there is a region of shallow depressions, and in the third region the shallow lineations are more complex and a higher density of features. The lineations are largely parallel and radial to the large depression. The cliff face between the top of the image and the lower right consists of two levels. The upper cliff slopes gently to the edge of the lower cliff face, where the change in elevation is dramatic. Dark slope streaks are visible on the lower cliff face, and on both cliffs on the far ri

These small channels join to become Sabis Vallis

The rugged, arcuate rim of the 90 km crater Reuyl dominates this NASA Mars Odyssey image. Reuyl crater is at the southern edge of a region known to be blanketed in thick dust based on its high albedo (brightness) and low thermal inertia values.

This image from NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows lava flows in Daedalia Planum.

This grouping of three crater looks like Mickey Mouse

The channel seen in this image from NASA's Mars Odyssey is located within the Tharsis volcanic flows. It was most likely carved by the flow of molten lava.

Verde Vallis

$Not all images are round as shown by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft. Here, the surface likely had fractures or preexisting tectonic features that diverted some of the impact stresses along those features and resulted in the straighter east and north$

This image from NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft is of an unnamed crater in Terra Sirenum. There are gullies dissecting part of the crater rim, and small dunes on the crater floor.

This VIS image shows part of Huo Hsing Vallis located in northern Terra Sabaea. Orbit Number 78300 Latitude 31.969 Longitude 65.7718 Instrument VIS Captured 2019-08-09 13 01

Texture

This VIS image shows a double impact - two meteors hitting simultaneously. The two meteors would have started as a single object, at some point prior to impact the object separated into parts. The two parts followed the same path to the surface, hitting at the same time in close proximity. The linear feature at the center is where the shock waves intersect, its straightness showing the impacts were simultaneous (and nearly equal in size). The ejecta created from the impact tends to be focused to the sides of the doublet, often forming a butterfly-like ejecta blanket. The butterfly pattern is most common at oblique angle impacts, but can also form by the interaction of the impact shock waves. These craters are located in Utopia Planitia. Orbit Number 72448 Latitude 27.1977 Longitude 95.4916 Instrument VIS Captured 2018-04-14 13 36

A section of Granicus Valles crosses the center of this VIS image. Granicus Valles is a complex channel system located west of Elyisum Mons. The channel system is approximately 750km long. It is likely that both water and lava played a part in creating the channel. Orbit Number 77886 Latitude 27.6994 Longitude 131.153 Instrument VIS Captured 2019-07-06 10 48

This image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows a small section of Reull Vallis.

Landslide

This VIS image shows a section of an unnamed channel in Terra Cimmeria. Orbit Number 80781 Latitude -8.28653 Longitude 134.422 Instrument VIS Captured 2020-02-29 19 45

This VIS image contains three craters. There is a quarter of the largest crater in the top half of the image, half of a smaller crater at the very top, and the full crater in the lower half of the image. Investigating the relative ages of each crater indicates the largest crater formed first followed at some point by the smaller craters -- the 1/2 crater at the top occurs on top of the big crater as does the ejecta from the bottom crater. Because the visible ejecta does not reach the smaller crater at the top it is difficult to determine the relative ages of the two smaller craters. Both have similar floor morphology, but different rim morphology. The crater in the bottom of the image has a very complex rim, including both rim gullies (top side) and ridge and spur eroded features (bottom side). These difference may be related to the different materials of the largest crater. One crater impacted into the floor and the other into the ejecta blanket of the largest crater. Near surface mor

Huo Hsing Vallis

Not Round

This VIS image shows part of the northern margin of Acheron Fossae. Multiple channels dissect the the higher elevation graben features at the bottom of the image. This higher topography feature is surrounded by lava flows and is thought to predate the majority of volcanic activity in the Tharsis region. Acheron Fossae is located 1,050 kilometers (650 miles) north of the large shield volcano Olympus Mons. Orbit Number 79093 Latitude 39.3864 Longitude 225.573 Instrument VIS Captured 2019-10-13 20 15

The channels in this image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft are part of Coloe Fossae, a series of linear depressions on the northeast margin of Terra Sabaea.

This landslide occurs in an unnamed crater southeast of Millochau Crater

The lava flows in this image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft originated at Pavonis Mons.

These odd shaped pits occur on the floor of a large crater in Terra Sabaea

Surface Textures

This image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraf shows a portion of Patapsco Vallis, located on the eastern margin of the Elysium volcanic complex.

This VIS image shows a portion of Niger Vallis. The channel is 333 km (207 miles) long. Arising from the volcano Hadriacus Mons, Niger Vallis merges with Dao Vallis and flows southwestward into Hellas Planitia. The channel is named for the Niger Rivier in Africa. Orbit Number 83734 Latitude -36.231 Longitude 90.9557 Instrument VIS Captured 2020-10-29 22 33

Landslide

Several channels are located on the flank of Hecates Tholus. In this image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft, one of those channels enters a crater, creating a deposit on the floor of the crater.

$Large fractures have formed 'steps' in this region of Tempe Terra as seen by NASA's Mars Odyssey.$

The channels in this image from NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft are part of Granicus Valles.

The small hill in this image aptured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft of Amazonis Planitia has several dark slope streaks, believed to form when down slope movement of rocks or other debris clear off some of the dust cover.

The linear depressions in this VIS image are called Mareotis Fossae. They are part of a huge region of graben that comprise Tempe Terra. The graben of Mareotis Fossae trend to the northeast, parallel to the fossae of Alba Mons located just to the west of Tempe Terra. Orbit Number 79840 Latitude 38.1019 Longitude 274.833 Instrument VIS Captured 2019-12-14 08 28

The wide channel in this image captured by NASA's Mars Odyssey is Tinto Vallis.

This image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows part of the lava field just off the northern flank of Ascraeus Mons. The depressions are collapse features most likely related to lava tubes below the surface.

The channels in this image from NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft are dissecting the northwestern flank of Alba Mons.

This VIS image is located in an unnamed crater in Terra Sabaea. The entire inner rim of the crater near the center of the image contains dark slope streaks. These features are thought to form by downslope movement of material which either reveals the darker rock beneath the dust coating, or creates the darker surface by flow of a volatile just beneath the dust coating. Orbit Number 72650 Latitude 11.8595 Longitude 27.5294 Instrument VIS Captured 2018-05-01 04 53

THEMIS ART #97

The action of the wind continues to shape the surface of Mars. This region has been eroded by the wind into parallel hills. This image from NASA's Mars Odyssey was captured on Sept. 6, 2010.

This image, taken by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft, shows the western wall of Uzboi Vallis near the intersection of the vallis and Holden Crater. Many channels dissect the wall of the channel.

This image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows visible dark streaks on the slopes of hills and crater rims in Amazonis Planitia.

The circular depressions prevalent throughout this scene from NASA's Mars Odyssey at first glance appear to be craters, but are they Could they be pits formed by devolatilization It is not clear. Scientists are studying these features in search of answe

Lycus Sulci

Peneus Patera. An unusual layer of smooth material covers the flanks of the volcano Peneus Patera just south of the Hellas Basin. Though smooth on its upper surface, the layer is pitted by a process of erosion that produces steep scarps facing the south pole and more gentle slopes in the direction of the equator. The style of erosion of the smooth layer suggests that ice of some form plays a role in shaping this terrain. Orbit Number 91422 Latitude -57.3055 Longitude 54.5279 Instrument VIS Captured 2022-07-24 23 11

This image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft contains the landing site in the bottom right portion of the image, near the dark dunes. Note the channel that cuts through the crater rim on the left side of the image.

This image captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows windstreaks on the lava flows of Daedalia Planum. The 'tail' behind the crater indicates winds blew from east to west.

Landslide deposits cover part of the floor of this unnamed crater in Tyrrhena Terra as seen by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft.

Koga Crater

This unnamed northern crater contains several dune fields. Within the central peak region (left side of image) there is material with a swirled surface pattern/texture

At the top of today's VIS image is the delta deposit on the floor of Eberswalde Crater. Deltas are formed when sediment laden rivers slow down either due to a flattening of topography, or entering a standing body of water. The reduction in velocity causes the sediments to be deposited. The main channel often diverges into numerous smaller channel that spread apart to form the typical fan shape of a delta. The Eberswalde Crater delta is one of the best preserved on Mars. Orbit Number 82771 Latitude -24.1614 Longitude 326.528 Instrument VIS Captured 2020-08-11 16 12

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