Press Release Images

Return to Press Release Images index

Full Res JPG (42 MB) Hi-Res (NASA's Planetary Photojournal)

15-Feb-2007 Images From Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Large (2.87 MB) Large (38.1 MB) Light-Toned Bedrock Along Cracks as Evidence of Fluid Alteration This enhanced-color image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment Camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows a landscape of sand dunes and buttes among a background of light-toned (tan-colored) bands and dark-toned (blue-colored) bands in the Candor Chasma region of Mars' Valles Marineris canyon system. The scene includes examples of thin dark lines bordered by light-toned bedrock. The dark lines are interpreted as fractures, called joints, that were formerly underground but have been exposed at the surface by erosion of overlying material. The light-toned material along the joints is interpreted as features called halos, resulting from mineral alteration (bleaching, cementation or both) of the walls of the fractures by fluid moving through the fractures. The image was acquired on Sept. 30, 2006, during winter in Mars' southern hemisphere, at a local Mars time of 3:29 p.m. It combines separate band passes taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment in blue-green light, red light and near-infrared light. The scene is illuminated from the west (left) with a solar incidence angle of 58.5 degrees. The image scale is 26 centimeters (10 inches) per pixel, the scale of the red bandpass image. The other bandpasses were acquired with two-by-two pixel binning to 52 centimeters (20 inches) per pixel.   Large (979 MB) The image, in the camera's catalogue as TRA_000836_1740, is centered at 5.7 degrees south latitude, 284.6 degrees east longitude. A locator map based on elevation data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor indicates this location in the context of the Candor Chasma region. A subframe of the full image shows the locations of smaller pull-outs selected for showing details of interest. Large (2.35 MB) Large (2.48 MB) Supplement 3 shows light-toned and dark-toned layers. Meter-scale dune forms are commonly observed within the dark layers. Also shown are joints and surrounding halos. In contrast to Figure 2, the halos along these joints are laterally more extensive and less localized along the trace of the joint. Large (5.89 MB) Large (2.50 MB) Supplement 4 shows two streamlined mesas of layered bedrock. The windward slopes of these mesas appear smooth, consistent with wind erosion. Boulders are common along the northwest slopes of the mesas. The horizontal spacing of joints appears to control the lateral dimensions of many of the largest boulders. Supplement 5 shows a high-density population of joints. Image credit: NASA/JPL/Univ. of Arizona Browse Image | Medium Image(364 kB) | Large (2.87 MB) Hi-Res (NASA's Planetary Photojournal) Linear Ridges at 'Victoria Crater' This enhanced-color view of the eastern rim and floor of "Victoria Crater" in Mars' Meridiani Planum region comes from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera in NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. It shows ridges that may be fractures surrounded by chemically cemented sedimentary bedrock. The ridges are therefore potentially fruitful targets for analysis by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, which is investigating the rim of this crater. Illumination is from the upper left. The image is a detail from a image TRA_000873_1780 in the camera's catalog, taken on Oct. 3, 2006. Image credit: NASA/JPL/Univ. of Arizona Annotated Browse Image | Medium Image (252 kB) | Large (1.37 MB) Hi-Res (NASA's Planetary Photojournal) Non Annotated Large (500 kB) Ridges in Stereo, Candor Chasma A stereo view shows fractures called joints. They have a ridge-like shape, standing out in positive relief as the surrounding bedrock is eroded away faster than they are. This positive relief suggests that the rock along the joints has been strengthened through chemical reactions with fluids flowing through these joints. The view appears three-dimensional when seen through red-green glasses. It combines two images taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter from slightly different overhead positions. The constituent blue image is a portion of image PSP_001641_1735 in the camera's catlog, taken Dec. 2, 2006. The red image is part of PSP_002063_1735, taken Jan. 4, 2007. The area covered in this image is about 5.8 kilometers (3.6 miles) wide, located within Candor Chasma, approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) southeast of the area shown in PIA09190. Image credit: NASA/JPL/Univ. of Arizona/USGS Annotated Browse Image | Medium Image (115 kB) | Large (3.42 MB) Hi-Res (NASA's Planetary Photojournal) Non Annotated Browse Image | Large (596 kB) Halos Along Fractures Exposed in Meridiani This image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows evidence for ancient fluid flow along fractures in Mars' Meridiani Planum region. The scene includes pervasive signs of ancient fluid flow in the form of bleached and cemented features, called halos, along fractures within the layered deposits of Meridiani. This site is approximately 375 kilometers (233 miles) northeast of "Victoria Crater."   Annotated Non-Annotated Large (1.92 MB) Large (472 KB)   Annotated Non Annotated Large (1.92 MB) Large (336 KB)   The view is a portion of image PSP_002324_1815 in the camera's catalog. The image scale is 27 centimeters (10.6 inches) per pixel. Illumination is from the upper left. Smaller portions of the scene are pulled out to highlight examples of the halos. The high-resolution camera acquired this image on Jan. 24, 2007. Image credit: NASA/JPL/Univ. of Arizona Browse Image | Medium Image (532 KB) | Large (12.1 MB) Hi-Res (NASA's Planetary Photojournal)

JPL Image Use Policy