Catalog Page for PIA04636

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PIA04636: Tractus Fossae Collapse Pit

NASA's Mars Global Surveyor shows collapse pits in the Tractus Fossae region on Mars. Dark streaks on the slopes of the pit result from avalanches of dry, fine-grained debris (probably dust).

Target Name:	Mars
Is a satellite of:	Sol (our sun)
Mission:	Mars Global Surveyor (MGS)
Spacecraft:	Mars Global Surveyor Orbiter
Instrument:	Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
Product Size:	540 x 810 pixels (w x h)
Produced By:	Malin Space Science Systems
Full-Res TIFF:	PIA04636.tif (423.9 kB)
Full-Res JPEG:	PIA04636.jpg (46.92 kB)

Click on the image above to download a moderately sized image in JPEG format (possibly reduced in size from original)

Original Caption Released with Image:

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-419, 12 July 2003

Extensional faulting, wherein some fraction of the martian crust is pulled apart and faults are formed where the bedrock breaks, has also led to formation of collapse pits in the Tractus Fossae region. This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows one such pit and the layered bedrock exposed in its walls. Dark streaks on the slopes of the pit result from avalanches of dry, fine-grained debris (probably dust, as these streaks are only found in the dust-mantled regions of Mars). This pit is located near 23.5°N, 103.8°W. Sunlight illuminates the scene from the lower left.

Image Credit:

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

Image Addition Date:

2003-07-17