HiPOD 12 May 2022: Dunes in Becquerel

The dunes in Becquerel Crater that carve out the layered material originate upwind in this smaller crater on Becquerel’s floor. Their shape in Context Camera images indicates a more complex wind regime than the unidirectional barchans that carve out yardangs in the layered deposit to the south. Why is it different? And what is the original source of dune sand in this crater?

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_065777_2020
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science #NASA

HiRISE 8K: Layers near a Ridge in Charitum Montes

Also visible in a Context Camera image, the objective of this observation is to examine layering near a ridge in Charitum Montes. (See link for full cutout and additional information.)

https://flic.kr/p/2njMjjR
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science

HiRISE 3D: Layers in Galle Crater

This picture is an Extension of existing coverage of the unusual layered mound in Galle Crater. Imaging of the well-exposed unconformities within the stratigraphy may help indicate modes of deposition.

https://www.uahirise.org/anaglyph/ESP_073191_1280_ESP_073125_1280_RED
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science

HiPOD 11 May 2022: Flow Features within an Impact Crater

Also observed with Context Camera images, this picture shows flow textures that are visible at edge of ejecta from the interior crater within the rim of an older crater. HiRISE resolution can help to examine the nature and origins of these features. They are also associated with some of the most well-preserved craters with notable topography.

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_069675_1640
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science #NASA

HiRISE 4K: Stunning Slopes in Juventae Chasma

Even though this observation was acquired after a large dust storm, there are numerous and large example of recurring slope lineae (RSL), even on the bedrock. (See link for full cutout.)

https://flic.kr/p/2njzDQr
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars science

HiRISE 3D: Defrosting at the Martian North Pole

This observation did not have much by way of a science rationale, but it’s wonderful to look at nonetheless.

https://www.uahirise.org/anaglyph/ESP_034818_2640_ESP_026075_2640_RED
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science

HiPOD 10 May 2022: A Song of Ice and Dunes

Actually more like a series! This is part of an acquisition of a sequence of HiRISE images centered on one of the North Polar regions of Mars that showcase a continuum of dune burial processes. Features of interest are dune forms, ripples, polygonal fractures and thin ice mantles.

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_069660_2625
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science #NASA

HiPOD 9 May 2022: Mounds in Western Oxia Colles

These landforms show distinctive variations in Context Camera images, yet are both similar to other buttes in the area which have been observed to have Mawrth Vallis-like stratigraphy. Understanding the connection between these landforms is vital to our knowledge of their formation. Additionally, we can observe any mineralogical differences between the plains and the mounds.

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_069657_2005
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science #NASA

HiPOD 6 May 2022: A Candidate Recent Impact Site

From the Context Camera team, a new candidate impact was detected on 24 July 2020 that was not present in a previous image of this site in 2018. This follow up image is essential for measuring the crater diameter and confirming if there are any small, bright areas indicative of ice.

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_065745_0980
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science #NASA

HiRISE 8K: A Wall Gully in Nirgal Vallis

This is an excellent example of a non-degraded valley/channel wall gully. (See link for full cutout and additional info.)

https://flic.kr/p/2nivvJd
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona

HiRISE 3D: Monitoring at the Spirit Landing Site

O Spirit, we shall never forget thee! Our goal is to observe the numerous dust devil streaks at this site for any changes, including fading.

https://www.uahirise.org/anaglyph/ESP_046729_1650_ESP_011943_1650_RED
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science

HiPOD 5 May 2022: Climbing Dunes in Eastern Aonia Terra

These dunes appear to climb out of this impact crater and merge with those in the plains to the north (top). The crater also has gullies that are partially covered by the dunes, along with a gorgeous array of swirling dust devil tracks. The northeast of the part of this image overlaps with another HiRISE observation.

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_065740_1290
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science #NASA

MarsPoetica

How perfect to be aboard a ship with
Maybe a hundred years still in my pocket.
But it’s late, for all of us,
And in truth the only ship there is
Is the ship we are all on
Burning the world as we go.

—Mary Oliver, “Traveling to Beautiful Places”

Addendum: We are based out of the University of Arizona in Tucson, part of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.

2/2 We post a HiRISE Picture of the Day (HiPOD) at least 5 times a week, along with other image and science stories of interest.

We would love it if this platform could schedule posts, but in the meantime, we are happy to be posting here.

And if we can get to 500 followers, they will let me see my family, so tell all your friends!

HiRISE 4K: Gullies in a Promethei Terra Crater

Gullies are visible on the southwest wall of this crater in Context Camera (CTX) images, but no previous HiRISE coverage for them exists. (See link for full cutout and additional information.)

https://flic.kr/p/2nin2qv
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science

HiRISE 3D: Classic Barchan Dunes

Or perhaps, Shai-Hulud in repose. The “horns” of the dunes are pointed in the direction of the wind.

https://www.uahirise.org/anaglyph/ESP_053437_2840_ESP_017926_2840_RED
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona

HiPOD 4 May 2022: Onward, Dunes!

Driven by the relentless Martian winds, these dunes are making their way slowly across the landscape in Ganges Chasma, situated at the eastern end of the vast Valles Marineris system. One of our goals with this observation is to create a digital terrain model that allows us to measure seasonal changes with better accuracy.

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_065739_1725
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science #NASA

HiRISE 3D: Capri Chasma Slopes

A wonderful example of mass wasting of crumbly, sulfate-rich sediments along steep slopes.

https://www.uahirise.org/anaglyph/ESP_057128_1670_ESP_023133_1670_RED
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science

HiPOD 3 May 2022: Fan Material in a Small Crater

Context Camera images show that small channels enter this crater within southern Gale Crater and that there is a “fan” of sediment deposited there. The direction of transport from channel to fan is roughly south to north. A key objective of this image is to further the overall understanding of the geologic history recorded in Gale.

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_069651_1740
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science #NASA