MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-576, 16 December 2003

The Cerberus Fossae are a series of long troughs and cracks that run southeastward from the Elysium volcanic region. This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) picture shows a view looking down into two of the troughs. Dark specks in the troughs are boulders that have come loose from the walls and rolled to a stop on the floors. In recent years, some Mars scientists have speculated that the Cerberus Fossae troughs were the source of volcanic eruptions, and perhaps also the source of water that produced catastrophic floods. However, no evidence for either process is found at this particular location. The picture is located near 10.1°N, 202.0°W. The image covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) wide; sunlight illuminates the scene from the lower left.