HiPOD: Saturday, 28 September 2024
A Potential Future Mars Landing Site: Mounds in Acidalia Planitia

A Potential Future Mars Landing Site: Mounds in Acidalia Planitia
This potential future Mars landing site in Acidalia Planitia targets densely occurring mounds thought to be “mud” volcanoes.

Mud volcanoes are geological structures formed when a mixture of gas, liquid and fine-grained rock (or mud) is forced to the surface from several meters to kilometers underground. Scientists are targeting these mud volcanoes because the sediments, brought from depth, could contain organic materials that might provide evidence for possible past and present microbial life on Mars.

ID: ESP_017950_2205
date: 26 May 2010
altitude: 299 km

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_017950_2205
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
#Mars #science #NASA

Black & white is less than 5 km across; enhanced color is less than 1 km. For full observation details, visit the ID link.