BEAUTIFUL MARS

HiPOD: Landforms in Utopia Planitia

This observation features landforms that resemble cratered-cones, but are morphologically distinct and may have a different formation mechanism. At HiRISE resolution, we can look for textures that may provide clues on how these features formed.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_077063_2110 date: 4 January 2023 altitude: 290 km

HiPOD: The Floor of East Candor Chasma

This target location is an interesting area, with possible soft sediment deformation of lacustrine (lake-based) sediment. This observation was requested to support geologic mapping.Candor Chasma is one of the largest canyons that make up Valles Marineris. The floor of Candor Chasma includes a variety of landforms, including layered deposits, dunes, landslide deposits and steep sided cliffs and mesas.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image, visit the source link.

HiPOD: The Scalloped Terrain of Utopia Planitia

This image footprint is in a region of abundant scalloped depressions. Their formation most likely involves development of oval- to scalloped-shaped depressions that may coalesce together, leading to the formation of large areas of pitted terrain. Scalloped pits typically have a steep pole-facing scarp and a gentler equator-facing slope.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_077037_2240 date: 2 January 2023 altitude: 299 km

HiPOD: Fluvial Erosion in Phlegra Montes

This public target via HiWish suggests to observe possible fluvial erosion that could help understand the climate history of Mars. Context Camera data and previous HiRISE images show faint, but possible channels. Phlegra Montes is a range of gently curving mountains and ridges on Mars, extending from the northeastern portion of the Elysium volcanic province to the northern lowlands.

ID: ESP_076823_2195 date: 16 December 2022 altitude: 296 km

HiPOD: Layers in West Melas Chasma

This stunning image shows well-exposed layers of a canyon wall in Melas Chasma. Our science goal is to see if we can constrain layer orientations, pinchout patterns and unconformities that can help determine layer origins. A stereo pair will help us to measure layer orientations.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_077043_1715 date: 2 January 2023 altitude: 264 km

HiPOD: The Ridges Within

The objective of this observation is to examine ridges on the floor of an extremely old impact crater located in Noachis Terra. Like its namesake, Noachis Terra (“Land of Noah”) is a southern highland region of heavily cratered and ancient terrain and is west of the giant Hellas impact basin.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_077040_1565 date: 2 January 2023 altitude: 255 km

HiPOD: Steep Slopes of Crumbling Bedrock in Valles Marineris

This image covers a rocky ridge deep in Melas Chasma, targeted to sample bedrock exposures. The slopes are quite steep, so there has been considerable mass wasting where boulders become loose over time and tumble down the slopes.

Hiking over this terrain would be challenging for future human visitors. It would also be quite challenging for rovers to drive here. Drones that can fly over this terrain may be the best way to explore the geology.

ID: ESP_092075_1680 date: 18 March 2026 altitude: 263 km

HiPOD: Deposits in Aeolis Dorsa

Branching deposits in this area have been shown to be consistent with river deltas. Measurements of channel-belt width and thicknesses of river deltas on Earth point to relationships between width, thickness, and backwater hydrodynamics. Here, we would like to make similar measurements of the delta deposits in the Aeolis Dorsa region.

ID: ESP_076995_1735 date: 29 December 2022 altitude: 265 km

HiPOD: A Flow East of Hellas Planitia

This image was a repeat request to track any changes from earlier HiRISE images. The goal of these obsevations was to examine material that appears to be flowing through the gap in a crater rim to a lower level. This breach and the materials on it are the most interesting aspects of the images.

ID: ESP_077010_1345 date: 30 December 2022 altitude: 248 km

HiPOD: Flows at the Ejecta Edge near Noord Crater

This image shows flow features at the edge of extended ejecta deposits. Here we can study the textures, nature, and origins of these flows in high resolution. The Context Camera also shows the existence of flows at this location. Our observation extends the mosaic coverage at Noord Crater, assisting in our ongoing characterization of that crater.

Grayscale cutouts are less than 5 km across. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_076988_1605 date: 29 December 2022 altitude: 258 km

HiPOD: Down in the Crater

This observation shows contact between material inside large and heavily eroded crater where an upper layer appears to be eroding back and forming a scarp. A high resolution image will help us to look for fine-scale bedding or other indications of the nature of these geologic units.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_076988_1965 date: 29 December 2022 altitude: 279 km

HiPOD: On the Shapes of Dunes

This observation is part of a long-running image campaign to aid in the classification and volume estimates of dunes in the U.S. Geological Survey global dune database. Sand dunes are among the most widespread wind features present on Mars. An earlier image from 2017 showed intresting height vs. ripple wavelength trends, but we need a digital terrain model to assess.

Grayscale cutout is less than 5 km across; enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km. For full image including scale bars, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_076988_1165 date: 29 December 2022 altitude: 249 km

HiPOD: Channels in Rahway Valles

This suggestion footprint contains channels and ridges that may have been created by volcanic, fluvial, and/or glacial processes. Higher resolution observations (especially stereo observations) of these channels could help to untangle the geologically recent histories of volcanism and water in the Elysium region.

Image cutout is less than 5 km across. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_076981_1890 date: 28 December 2022 altitude: 275 km

HiPOD: The Wall of a Crater in Tyrrhena Terra

A public target suggestion from HiWish, this observation was acquired to determine if lava flow was ever present and to evaluate the landscape. This footprint is at the northern edge of a large, unnamed and heavily eroded impact crater. Tyrrhena Terra is heavily cratered and rugged, and is south of Isidis Planitia.

ID: ESP_076984_1795 date: 28 December 2022 altitude: 263 km

HiPOD: Light on Dark

This stunning image shows bright exposed bedrock that might be hydrated, sulfate-rich terrain. This makes the scene one of mineralogic interest earlier identified by the CRISM instrument on MRO, and that previously lacked HiRISE coverage. This footprint is on the western wall of Columbus Crater. The presence of sulfates and clay minerals in sediments within Columbus are strong evidence that a lake once existed here.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across; grayscale is less than 5 km. For full image including scale bar, visit the source link.

ID: ESP_076941_1505 date: 25 December 2022 altitude: 250 km

HiPOD: Landslides in Orson Welles Crater

The chaotic terrains of Orson Welles crater host several small-scale (1 to 2 kilometer) long runout landslides. Understanding the origin of terrains and their link with the development of highly mobile landslides is important to unravel the potential role of ice, or other fluids, and so gaining insights into the geological and climatic evolution of this area. This type of small-scale Martian long runout landslides are great analogues of Icelandic landslides.

ID: ESP_076910_1805 date: 23 December 2022 altitude: 268 km

HiPOD: Cold Dunes, Cold Planet

This observation features dunes at high latitude with frost well into summer. This image footprint is in Planum Boreum at the South Pole of Mars. With this picture, we can acquire repeat observations to track changes over time.

ID: ESP_076979_2650 date: 28 December 2022 altitude: 319 km