A Hole in Mars
Explanation:
What created this unusual hole in Mars?
The hole was discovered
by chance in 2011 on images of the dusty slopes of Mars'
Pavonis Mons volcano taken
by the
HiRISE instrument aboard the robotic
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter currently circling Mars.
The hole, shown in representative color, appears to be an opening to an underground
cavern, partly illuminated on the image right.
Analysis of this and follow-up images revealed the
opening to be about 35 meters across, while the interior
shadow angle indicates that the underlying cavern is
roughly 20 meters deep.
Why there is a circular crater surrounding this hole remains a topic of
speculation,
as is the full extent of the underlying cavern.
Holes such as
this are of particular interest because their interior
caves are relatively protected from the harsh surface of
Mars,
making them relatively good candidates to
contain Martian life.
These pits are therefore prime targets for
possible future spacecraft, robots, and even
human interplanetary
explorers.
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.
