Layering in Uzer Crater
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
Layering in Uzer Crater
PSP_009721_1785  Science Theme: Sedimentary/Layering Processes
This image shows a portion of Uzer Crater, located in Sinus Meridiani near the equator in the Northern Hemisphere of Mars.

Light-toned layered rocks are visible on the wall of Uzer Crater. Differences in color highlight variations in the layered units. Wind erosion, in particular, has modified the layers since exposure creating rounded depressions. These layers are interpreted to be an outcrop of sedimentary rocks that formed by sediments once deposited in this area. The origin of the sediments composing the layers is unknown but may have included fluvial processes and wind blown particles such as dust or volcanic ash.

Over time, the sediments were solidified into rock and eventually exposed when an impact formed Uzer Crater. Northern Sinus Meridiani has many similar outcrops of light-toned sedimentary material that are observed over a large region.

On Mars, as on Earth, sedimentary rocks preserve a record of past environments. HiRISE color images reveal details in the layers that will help scientists learn more about their origin.

Written by: Maria Banks  (15 October 2008)

This is a stereo pair with PSP_008073_1785.
 
Acquisition date
22 August 2008

Local Mars time
15:26

Latitude (centered)
-1.277°

Longitude (East)
358.306°

Spacecraft altitude
267.6 km (166.3 miles)

Original image scale range
27.7 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~83 cm across are resolved

Map projected scale
25 cm/pixel and North is up

Map projection
Equirectangular

Emission angle
14.9°

Phase angle
68.0°

Solar incidence angle
55°, with the Sun about 35° above the horizon

Solar longitude
116.5°, Northern Summer

For non-map projected images
North azimuth:  97°
Sub-solar azimuth:  35.2°
JPEG
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IRB color
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Merged IRB
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Merged RGB
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RGB color
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JP2
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map-projected   (989MB)

IRB color
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JP2 EXTRAS
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map-projected  (521MB)
non-map           (474MB)

IRB color
map projected  (149MB)
non-map           (391MB)

Merged IRB
map projected  (248MB)

Merged RGB
map-projected  (237MB)

RGB color
non map           (378MB)
ANAGLYPHS
Map-projected, reduced-resolution
Full resolution JP2 download
Anaglyph details page

BONUS
4K (TIFF)
8K (TIFF)
10K (TIFF)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
B&W label
Color label
Merged IRB label
Merged RGB label
EDR products
HiView

NB
IRB: infrared-red-blue
RGB: red-green-blue
About color products (PDF)

Black & white is 5 km across; enhanced color about 1 km
For scale, use JPEG/JP2 black & white map-projected images

USAGE POLICY
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:
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona

POSTSCRIPT
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. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona.