Melas Chasma
Date: 22 June 2004
Satellite: Mars Express
Depicts: Melas Chasma in the Valles Marineris canyon
Copyright: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA IGO 3.0
On 2 May 2004, the High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) obtained images from the central area of the Valles Marineris canyon. The images were taken at a resolution of approximately 16 metres per pixel. The displayed region is located at the southern rim of the Melas Chasma at Mars latitude 12° S and Mars longitude 285° E. The images were taken on orbit 360 of Mars Express.
This region shows several clues to the morphological and geological development of the Valles Marineris. The image shows many traces of volcanic activity and possibly water-related acitivity. However, a lot of the surface has been altered by subsequent geological processes, such as wind erosion and quakes.
Although many questions about the geological development of the Valles Marineris canyon have remained unanswered until now, the detailed HRSC image data may help to find some answers. Using HRSC data, scientists can focus on morphology - the evolution of rocks and land forms. The reflected light of the surface can be analysed to determine which type of rocks the canyon is made out of.
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