This image is of a flow feature within Moreux Crater, located at 42N and 44.6E on the edge of Mars’ highlands/lowlands boundary. The crater itself is roughly 135 kilometers in diameter.

During the impact that forms craters, a roughly bowl shaped volume is excavated from the Martian crust. In craters larger than about 7 km in diameter, a central peak or mound forms on the floor of the crater. This image focuses on a portion of the Moreux central peak that apparently broke off and slid away, forming a type of giant landslide.

Interesting hummocks, swirls and ridges are found on the surface of the landslide. There are also distinct, almost circular depressions of unknown origin near the foot of the flow. Both light and dark toned dunes later formed on this landform.


Written by: Shawn D Hart

All of the images produced by HiRISE and accessible on this site are within the public domain: there are no restrictions on their usage by anyone in the public, including news or science organizations. We do ask for a credit line where possible: Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona. The image data were processed using the U.S. Geological Survey’s ISIS3 software.