ESA - Mars Express Mission patch.
8 June 2017
Perspective view across a crater in Erythraeum Chaos
This 70 km-wide crater and its surrounds offer a window into the watery past of the Red Planet.
The scene, captured by ESA’s Mars Express, is a composite of two images taken in March 2007 and February 2017.
Erythraeum Chaos in context
It focuses on a large crater in the Margaritifer Terra region in the southern hemisphere of Mars, and includes a portion of Erythraeum Chaos to the north (right in the main colour image below).
The region is located at the northern edge of Noachis Terra, which at 3.7–4 billion years old, represents some of the oldest and most heavily cratered terrain on Mars.
Margaritifer Terra and Erythraeum Chaos
Remnants of valley networks across the scene indicate that water once flowed through this region, shaping the features seen today. Indeed, as shown by the context image, Parana Valles lies to the east, while Loire Valles lies to the northwest.
There are a number of distinctive features inside the 70 km crater, such as the striking light-toned material that is interpreted as exposed bedrock.
Erythraeum Chaos and surrounds: topography
‘Chaotic terrain’ is visible both inside and outside the crater, marked by randomly oriented blocks separated by troughs.
In general, chaotic terrain is associated with the collapse of the surface above regions where large amounts of subsurface water have been released, for example by the sudden melting of ice. As such, outflow channels often begin in chaos terrains.
Erythraeum Chaos and surrounds in 3D
Chaotic terrain may also mark the sites of ancient lakes, such as in Erythraeum Chaos to the north (right) of the crater in this scene, between Loire and Parana Valles.
Related links:
Mars Express: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express
Mars Express overview: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express_overview
Mars Express 10 year brochure: http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/publications/BR-312/
Mars Express in-depth: http://sci.esa.int/marsexpress
ESA Planetary Science archive (PSA): http://www.rssd.esa.int/PSA
Mars Webcam: http://blogs.esa.int/vmc
High Resolution Stereo Camera: http://berlinadmin.dlr.de/Missions/express/indexeng.shtml
HRSC data viewer: http://hrscview.fu-berlin.de/
Behind the lens: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Behind_the_lens
Frequently asked questions: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Frequently_asked_questions
Images, Text, Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO/NASA MGS MOLA Science Team.
Best regards, Orbiter.ch
