When Did the Light-Toned Layers Form?
HiRISE PICTURE OF THE DAY: 27 NOVEMBER 2025
When Did the Light-Toned Layers Form?

Determining when the light-toned layered deposits formed is important for understanding the geologic history of Valles Marineris, especially because these deposits are hydrated and most likely formed in the presence of liquid water.



HiRISE Image of Exocomet 3I/ATLAS
On 2 October 2025, MRO turned away from Mars to image 3I/ATLAS, only the third interstellar object ever observed passing through our solar system!

HiRISE Instrument News
Since July 23, 2023, HiRISE observations have lacked data from the RED4 CCD due to a hardware issue, creating a gap in the middle of image products and reducing the color swath to 1 CCD width. We are investigating the hardware issue and may be able to acquire some RED4 data in the future.

Complicated Lava Cooling
This HiRISE image shows a classic example of platy-ridged lava. Scientists think that this is the same as a lava type called “rubbly pahoehoe” on Earth.