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Planetary News: Mars (2007)Mars Express Captures New View of Deuteronilus MensaeMay 29, 2007
The High Resolution Stereo Camera on board the European Space Agency’s Mars Express has captured breathtaking images of the Deuteronilus Mensae region on Mars. The images, taken on March 14, 2005, show the Deuteronilus Mensae region, located on the northern edge of Arabia Terra and bordering the southern highlands and the northern lowlands. Situated at approximately 39 degrees North and 23 degrees East, Deuteronilus Mensae are primarily characterized by glacial features. One of the most striking features on Mars is the dichotomy between the southern highlands and the northern plains, lower by up to 3 kilometers (about 2 miles). The boundary between these two regions is marked by a transition characterized by an intact highland zone and areas with remnant mesas and isolated eroded knobs. The scene of Deuteronilus Mensae depicts different stages of highland degradation. Numerous flow patterns in wide valleys and along ridges and scarps indicate movement of debris mixed with ice towards the surrounding areas. Since the discovery of these structures, scientists assume that the mixture of debris and ice resembles rock glaciers commonly found in cold-climate areas on the Earth. As on Earth, these landscapes are climate indicators. Whether ice could be still present in the porous spaces in Martian features and how active these landforms may be today is still a subject of discussion. To see more images, visit ESA's Mars Express website. |
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