Machine Learning Spots a Cluster of Mars Craters: Context Camera’s View

The tiny black speck in the lower left corner of this image within the red circle is a cluster of recently formed craters spotted on Mars using a new machine-learning algorithm. This image was taken by the Context Camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in a region called Noctis Fossae, located at latitude -3.213, longitude: 259.415.

The medium-angle Context Camera can view hundreds of miles of terrain in low resolution; scientists then scan the image for interesting features and can request another MRO camera, the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE), to zoom in for a more detailed view. The HiRISE view of the black speck in this image can be seen in AI Spots a Cluster of Mars Craters: HiRISE's View.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for the NASA Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver, built the spacecraft. Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, provided and operates the Context Camera. University of Arizona in Tucson provided and operates HiRISE.