Released 21 August 2003

The southern flank of the massive Pavonis Mons volcano hosts a remarkable concentration of channels, pit chains, and graben. The deep channels likely began as subsurface lava tubes whose roofs collapsed as pits developed over them. Examples of this process are clearly evident throughout the scene. Also present are relatively straight troughs (graben) that crosscut the channels and pit chains. These arise from the tectonic forces associated with construction of the massive volcano. Lava channels and flow textures are evident on the uppermost surfaces.

Image information: VIS instrument. Latitude -0.9, Longitude 246.2 East (113.8 West). 19 meter/pixel resolution.

Note: this THEMIS visual image has not been radiometrically nor geometrically calibrated for this preliminary release. An empirical correction has been performed to remove instrumental effects. A linear shift has been applied in the cross-track and down-track direction to approximate spacecraft and planetary motion. Fully calibrated and geometrically projected images will be released through the Planetary Data System in accordance with Project policies at a later time.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) was developed by Arizona State University, Tempe, in collaboration with Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. The THEMIS investigation is led by Dr. Philip Christensen at Arizona State University. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for the Odyssey project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.