Ancient Volcanos of Mars
Explanation:
Findings of ancient
martian microbial fossils in meteorites and
liquid water related
features
on Mars' surface
are currently controversial issues.
But one thing long established by space-based observations of
the Red Planet
is the presence of volcanos, as Mars supports some of the
largest
volcanos in the solar system.
This synthetic color picture
recorded in March by
the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft shows two of them,
Ceraunius Tholus (leftmost) and Uranius Tholus.
Found north of the
Tharsis region of truly
large martian volcanos,
these are actually two relatively small volcanos,
Ceraunius Tholus being only about the size of the Big Island
of Hawaii on planet Earth.
Impact craters which overlay the volcanic
martian terrain
indicate that these
volcanos
are themselves ancient and inactive.
North is to the right and the scene is illuminated by sunlight
from the top left.
A light region of dust deposited by recent
global dust storms lies
on the lower left flank of Ceraunius Tholus, whose summit crater
is about 25 kilometers across.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
