PIA03953: Gullied Crater Wall


Gullied Crater Wall

Caption:

16 June 2005
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows gullies in the southeast-facing wall of an impact crater in northwestern Acidalia Planitia. Gullies are common in southern middle-latitude craters, and much less common in cases like the one shown here, found at a northern middle latitude. Debate continues within the Mars science community as to the origin of the gullies, whether by groundwater, melting ice or snow, or an alternative fluid such as carbon dioxide.

Location near : 41.4°N, 44.8°W
Image width : ~3 km (~1.9 mi)
Illumination from : lower left
Season : Northern Autumn

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Mars
System
Target Type Planet
Mission Mars Global Surveyor (MGS)
Instrument Host Mars Global Surveyor
Host Type Orbiter
Instrument Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
Detector
Extra Keywords Crater, Grayscale, Impact, Water
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2005-06-16
Date in Caption 2005-06-16
Image Credit NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03953
Identifier PIA03953